The proceedings took place in a designated hall to host nearly 200 civil parties involved. Among the claimants are individuals permanently disabled and families of the deceased.
A Belgian motorist was found guilty on Friday of killing seven people after driving his car into a carnival parade while recording himself behind the wheel.
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Paolo Falzone, aged 38, is scheduled for sentencing next week regarding the fatal accident that occurred in March 2022 in La Louvière, a town in the south. The sentence could reach up to 30 years of imprisonment.
According to prosecutors, the incident took place when Falzone, who had prior speeding and DUI convictions, sped his BMW at 170 kilometres per hour in a zone restricted to 50 kilometres on the outskirts of the town.
They indicated that he was returning from a nightclub before dawn on a Sunday and was unaware that participants dressed for a traditional carnival parade were present on the street.
Investigators concluded that Falzone was recording a social media video and was not focused on driving at the moment of the collision.
Six people lost their lives immediately, while emergency responders attended to approximately 40 injured individuals spread across several hundred meters. One more victim passed away afterward.
During the hearing, Falzone expressed remorse for his behavior and stated he did not intend to cause harm.
«I openly admit that I frequently recorded myself driving at reckless speeds. I did it often,» he declared. «My conduct was utterly foolish.»
In an uncommon decision for a traffic case, an appeals court mandated the trial be held before a jury, partly due to the public outrage it generated.
The trial occurred in a designated space to accommodate close to 200 civil parties involved. These civil claimants include individuals disabled permanently and families of the deceased.
A passenger present in the vehicle during the crash was also convicted of neglecting to assist persons in danger, facing a potential sentence of up to two years in prison.
Additional sources • AFP