Case of ‘Master Thijs’ immediately postponed: « Incomprehensible, now the school gets all those questions again on 1 September » (Geraardsbergen)
Master Thijs remains arrested. – © Het Nieuwsblad
The case of Thijs DW was discussed on Friday morning for the correctional court of Oudenaarde. The once -loved care teacher was on trial for, among other things, rape of his toddlers. The man himself was absent, to the annoyance of the court. And the lawyers of the victims were also annoyed, because the defense asked and received a postponement.
At the beginning of 2024, the terrible practices of Master Thijs came to light. He raped boys between 2.5 and 5 years old, children he had under his care as a care teacher in the springboard in Onkerzele, East Flanders. Almost a year and a half after he was arrested, he is still in the prison of Oudenaarde.
Absent
On Friday morning Thijs got the chance to leave the prison for his trial, but in the short walk to the court he clearly didn’t feel like it. He remained absent. Two parent couples did come to the hearing.
Only too much happened there yet. Normally a case is argued at the first session when the suspect is in the cell. But at the start, the defense immediately asked to be able to deal with the case later, and so on Friday only to agree on conclusion periods.
Greet De Troyer. – © Peter Malaise
Delay
Greet De Troyer, lawyer of the Diocesaan School Committee Denderstreek-Zuid and Civil Party, took the floor. « The case was introduced and I really wanted to deal with it on a criminal level, » she said. « The big vacation is just around the corner, it is important not to postpone this. Otherwise you will get the same questions about this case again on 1 September and that is not good. »
« They ask to be able to answer all questions, also in the civil field. But the civil field are figures, the damage that the school, teachers and the parents have suffered. On a criminal level, the file has long been known and I see no reason not to argue today. Fortunately, the court has made an exercise and postponed this case to September 19. »
At the session, the ex-partner of Master Thijs also set himself a civil party. The chairman clearly gave the defense that he expects the defendant to be present on September 19. (PMA)
