Couple suspected of poisoning mother-in-law maintain innocence: ‘She wanted to commit suicide’ Abroad

The incidents took place on September 10 and 21. On September 10, the couple was visiting the mother in Affligem and after their departure the woman became unwell. She was taken to hospital, where doctors placed a stent. While the woman was still recovering from that operation, the couple demanded that she be able to go home immediately. The hospital accepted, provided documents were signed that this was at their own risk.

Strange medication

On September 21, the couple again visited the mother-in-law and again the woman became unwell after their departure. This time she suffered a cardiac arrest on the public road. The woman was barely able to be resuscitated and doctors found a strange heart rate-slowing medication in her blood. It was not intended for her at all, but turned out to be from her daughter-in-law; she had had to take such medication for years for heart problems, which were recently solved by a pacemaker.

Investigators suspect the couple administered the medication to the mother-in-law while they were visiting her.

Suicide

“Our clients strongly deny that,” lawyers Anthony Mallego and Jeroen D’Hondt said in court on Tuesday. “They suspect that it was an act of desperation on the part of the mother. We have provided the council chamber with a lot of elements that need further investigation.” The mother denies that she wanted to commit suicide. “Certainly not,” she told Nieuwsblad about this.

Jeroen D’Hondt, the couple’s lawyer, is also not pleased with the statements of the victim. “She has openly accused my client and stated that she is behind the facts and not the son. That is extremely remarkable, let me put it this way. It makes us frown.”

The case comes within two weeks, the couple must appear in court again.

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