Motorist and Trucker also appealed on appeal for death of e-Stepper Erwan (17): « Questions remain relatives unfortunately unanswered » (inland)
Dilbekenaar Erwan Zemmouri spent the summer with his stepparents aan Zee, when in the night of 13 to 14 July 2022 he returned to Camping Albatros in Lombardsijde after a party in surfing club De Kwinte. MD (40) from Nieuwpoort also had a nice evening. She had celebrated her birthday with girlfriends and was on her way home by car when she suddenly felt that she was driving something in the Royal Baan in Middelkerke. She placed her car aside and discovered Erwan’s lifeless body.
The collision immediately raised a lot of questions, because the damage to the woman’s Audi A3 did not match the teenage injuries. Moreover, the step was very heavily hit for a collision with a passenger car. A reconstruction showed that the boy was already on the ground when he was run over. Moreover, it became clear that the boy was not hit one, but two or possibly even three times.
Threshold
Camera images of the campsite showed that a truck had passed shortly before the Audi A3. The trucker was identified as Dutchman RS who stated that he had not seen Erwan and just like MD thought he had driven a threshold. The investigation confirmed that Erwan was already on the ground when the truck struck him.
The police court, in April 2024, eventually spoke free for the two defendants for unintentional killing. According to the judge, Erwan and his step were an unforeseeable obstacle for both. It was a very dark stretch of the Royal Job and it is not clear whether the lighting of the scooter was in operation at the time of the collisions.
The trucker was found guilty of a fleeing crime and was banned for three months, one of which is effective, and a fine of 3,200 euros, of which 800 euros effective. De Nieuwpoortse received a fine of 1,600 euros, half of which with a postponement, and a one -month driving ban, because it drove under the influence of alcohol.
No foreseeable obstacle
In March the case appeared on appeal and the foster papa then questioned the trucker’s statements. « I have been a truck driver for thirty years, » he said. « You even feel a small tap and then you have to stop immediately. » But the court fully confirmed the ruling of the police court on Friday and again ruled that the victim was not a foreseeable obstacle.
The lawyer of the motorist responds satisfied. « My client is of course relieved, » says master Hannes Colpaert. « But she is also a bit overwhelmed. After all, the facts have also left her a very deep impression on her. She had a conversation with the relatives and has had a lot to do. But unfortunately she cannot give them the answers to their many questions. She is very concerned about them. »
During the process, Master Colpaert threw the opportunity of a third party involved. « On camera images you can see well that shortly before the truck another vehicle drives by. But that driver could not be identified. The court opened that piste. In my opinion, it cannot be excluded that the real driving driver originates the dance, » he concludes.
