Bruges magistrates have ruled that three friends of a 37-year-old Bulgarian man that was found dead on the beach at Blankenberge (West Flanders) on Tuesday morning should be released from custody. Their defence lawyer had argued that there is no question of his clients being guilty of willful negligence. The West Flemish prosecutor’s office can appeal against the men’s release.
Friends of man found dead on Blankenberge beach unconditionally released from custody
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At around 7am on Tuesday a person that was walking on Blankenberge beach found the on a 37-year-old Bulgarian man on the beach. The police were infirmed and the prosecutor’s office launched an investigation.
The man was identified very quickly thanks to his three friends, two Bulgarians and one Turkish national. They told the police that they had been drinking heavily on Monday evening spent Monday night on the beach. The dead man had gone for a swim. Only when they woke up the next morning did his friends realise that he had not returned.
According to his friends, a wound on the dead man’s head can be explained by him having fallen or jumped from a breakwater. An autopsy showed that he had died from drowning. The pathologist said that the man’s body showed no signs of violence. Nevertheless, the man’s three friends were arrest on suspicion of willful negligence.
Friend had warned him not to swim
At Friday morning’s hearing the defence said that that there was absolutely no question of willful negligence. The man’s friends were even said to have warned him against going for a swim. According to their lawyers, the suspects do not pose a danger to the public (something stated in their arrest warrant).
The court ruled that the three may leave prison unconditionally. However, the public prosecutor can still lodge an appeal against this decision. If an appeal is lodge, the 3 men will remain in the custody until the Ghent (East Flanders) Chamber of Indictment has ruled. The Chamber would have 2 weeks in which to do so.