78-Year-Old Belgian Man Arrested for Alleged Murder of Companion 30 Years Ago

A shocking discovery has led to the arrest of a 78-year-old Belgian man on suspicion of the murder of his companion 30 years ago. The arrest comes after human remains were unearthed during excavation work in a garden, according to prosecutors.

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

The suspect, identified as Hans D., was taken into custody this week and has been formally charged. He has also been fitted with an electronic tracking bracelet. A court in the Belgian city of Ghent is scheduled to make a decision on the duration and terms of his detention during a hearing set for Friday.

Reopened Cold Case

The case had gone cold until the discovery of the remains last Saturday in the garden of a home in Sint-Martens-Latem, located just southwest of Ghent. Following the discovery, authorities quickly determined that the body could belong to a neighbor who went missing in 1994 at the age of 48. The missing woman had been the companion of the suspected individual.

Confession and Cooperation

Reports from the Belgian newspaper De Standaard suggest that Hans D. admitted to burying the woman but denied responsibility for her death. Meanwhile, the suspect's lawyer, Ashley Bicx, stated to Het Nieuwsblad that his client is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

Victim's Disappearance and Legal Declaration

The woman, identified as Annie De Poortere by the Brussels Times, vanished on November 12, 1994. Five years later, a court in Ghent declared her "absent" after the case went cold. Notably, at the time of her disappearance, Hans D., a tradesman in the village, was not considered a suspect.