71-year-old suspect in the Claudia Van Der Stichelen murder case has been formally arrested

The man was detained on Monday at his home in the village of Hillegem, near Herzele (East Flanders). Detectives searched his home all day on Monday. On Wednesday morning an examining magistrate formally arrested him on suspicion of the murder of Claudia Van Der Stichelen and the attempted murder of her son.

Annelies Verstraete of the East Flanders public prosecutor's office told journalists that "There has been a breakthrough in the investigation. The investigation has been intense investigation, using all possible means available. Tips and CCTV images have been analysed and DNA testing has produced a positive match." Previously, it was not public knowledge that DNA had been found at the murder scene.

"This has enabled us to link the man to the scene.” However, he currently denies any involvement in the murder.

Exactly what his motive was for shooting the lawyer dead in cold blood in her front garden more than a year and a half ago is not yet clear. What we do know is that he was an ex-client of Ms Van Der Stichelen in the early 2000s. He then had the provisional power of attorney over his mother’s finances and Mr Van Der Stichelen was involved with the legal arrangements surrounding this. 

The suspect will appear before Chambers on Friday. 

VRT NWS was able to speak briefly with Claudia Van Der Stichelen’s widower Eric Flamée. Mr Flamée told us that "We are very relieved at the news. I have already wept with relief here with my son."

Mr Flamée added that he would also like to explicitly thank all the detectives involved in the case.