Last week, the Antwerp Assize Court in Belgium handed down a 30-year prison sentence to a Moroccan national, following three and a half hours of deliberation. He was convicted of murdering his partner, stealing her bank card, and committing cyber fraud. The prosecution had originally sought a 29-year sentence. The 36-year-old victim was discovered dead on her living room couch. A forensic examination determined she had died from suffocation and found traces of hashish, cocaine, and medication in her system. The 39-year-old suspect was apprehended on March 30, 2023, after investigators identified discrepancies in his account. Analysis of phone data placed him near the victim's residence throughout the night of March 17 to 18, contradicting his assertion that he had left by 9:30 p.m. Authorities also uncovered four deleted videos on his phone, capturing violent disputes with the victim. The final video, recorded at 7:30 a.m., featured the victim screaming and demanding he leave her home. Bank records showed he attempted to withdraw 230 euros and later 100 euros from the victim's account using her card, but both attempts failed due to insufficient funds. In a subsequent interrogation in June 2023, Achergui confessed to arguing with the victim, alleging she threatened him with an axe when he tried to leave. He claimed he grabbed her by the neck and pushed her onto a chair, leaving her struggling to breathe, but maintained he did not intend to kill her.
