The Verdict (Het Vonnis) (Het Vonnis)

'THERE IS NO JUSTICE ONLY LIMITS.' ALBERT CAMUS

When is he going to ask? He could have announced it today, couldn't he?

Yeah... He's probably waiting until the annual results are announced, eh?

Everyone will be there and it'll be a bit more official then too.

What will you do about Lambrechts' offer?

They ignored me for years.

Now they're in the shit, they suddenly want me and are waving money at me.

- I'm not that kind of guy. - No, you're not that kind of guy.

- No, you have principles. - Yes.

- You're predictable too. - Carry on.

- And a decent person. - And boring.

- Boring? Boring. - Boring is seriously underrated.

- That's true. - Wonderful, eh?

We're going home, princess.

- No. - Yes.

Are you keeping an eye on your crown prince?

- When are you going to tell him? - We're having lunch tomorrow.

- I'll ask him officially then. - Oh, right.

- It was fantastic. - Thank you.

- Really. - Anna has had a great time.

- Yes. - Thank you.

- Did you enjoy yourself? - Yes.

- Not too tired? - I'm never tired.

- I'm never tired. - Never tired.

She's asleep.

Want some?

- Go on. - No.

Delicious, eh?

- I'm just going to get a loaf. - OK.

Your money, please.

Daddy?

Daddy?

THE VERDICT

Luc?

Ella?

Ella?

- Luc. - I want to... want to see Ella.

- You have... - What?

You have been in a coma for three weeks.

The doctors didn't know when you would wake up. Or even if you would wake up.

- We didn't have a choice. - Ella? Ella?

We had to let the funeral go ahead.

There were no cameras in the shop

and there are no usable images from the petrol station's CCTV.

In the corner of one we do get a glimpse of a motorbike driving off,

but the number plate is illegible and we can't tell the exact type of bike.

There are so many foot- and fingerprints in the shop

that not a single one is clear.

They weren't very fussy about cleaning. And we don't have any witnesses.

Except for you, of course.

Given the arbitrariness and brutality of what happened,

it is highly likely that whoever did it is known to us. I mean...

That sort of violence is rarely a one-off. It doesn't suddenly happen.

Someone like that probably has other violent crimes to his name.

And...

Kenny De Groot.

Shhh. Quiet!

- Federal Police! - Police! Stop!

Hands in the air!

Arms in the air!

A scumbag with a long criminal record.

Robbery, robbery with violence, handling stolen goods, drunken brawls...

A repeat offender. In and out of prison.

I'd get a good lawyer, if I were you. A criminal lawyer.

It's not my thing. I go after customers who don't pay their bills.

I read contracts.

Don't forget, it may look like a simple case but there is no such thing.

- There are no direct witnesses. - What about me?

- Impartial witnesses. - For goodness' sake!

The bottom line?

Robbery with murder, with a life sentence, will be difficult.

Difficult? Her handbag was left on the ground in shreds.

That's the point. Technically it can only be robbery with murder

if the perpetrator actually took something and he didn't in this case.

Manslaughter is a possibility but assault leading to death is more realistic.

Maximum sentence is ten years. I don't think he can expect a reduced sentence,

so there's a good chance he will be behind bars for at least six years.

Six years?

I think so.

What about Anna?

Well...

Technically speaking, Anna was... an accident.

An accident?

An accident.

And we shouldn't underestimate our opponents.

Have you, for example, wondered

how come a shady, small-time mechanic like Kenny De Groot

can afford an ambitious and talented lawyer like Miss Teugels?

Look, Mr Segers. With your correct income, your correctly declared income,

you have to bear the legal costs yourself.

Unlike lots of criminals who, and this won't surprise you,

don't have a correctly declared income and therefore receive legal aid.

And contrary to what you may think, legal aid lawyers don't do it for love,

nor are they driven by unstoppable, irrepressible idealism.

They send their rather substantial bill to the State.

Which is why in cases that will be in the papers, cases like yours,

the perpetrators can afford a prominent barrister like Miss Teugels.

That sounds rather cynical, Mr De Cock.

I would say realistic. Pragmatic.

Look. You are paying me to guide you through this minefield.

So it is my job to tell you where the mines are.

Mr Segers. Luc.

I am not going to say that I know how you feel.

I don't know and, to be honest, I hope I never do.

But I do know I've met lots of people in a similar situation to you.

And, as incredible as this may sound, lots of them eventually move on.

A trial also helps you come to terms with it, gives you closure.

The justice you are seeking and will get, I promise,

will help you find peace.

Otherwise there is no point you starting this.

Thank you.

Luc? Why don't you come and stay with us for a while?

De Groot? Come with me. Your lawyer is here.

I've got some good news.

And, as Prosecutor General, you go along with this argument?

That's true, yes. Thank you for calling me.

A procedural error?

What exactly is a procedural error?

Well... the law is complex. All kinds of strict rules have been incorporated

to prevent arbitrary arrest or detention.

Those rules are there with good reason. They protect the innocent, of course,

but the guilty can occasionally use them too and that is what has happened now.

The guy killed my wife. He was arrested and is behind bars.

- What has procedure got to do with it? - Well, that's the problem.

The Public Prosecutor's request that the examining magistrate investigates

a suspect in a criminal case,

in this case so Kenny De Groot could be arrested for what happened to your wife.

My wife's murder, you mean. Yeah, yeah.

Your wife's murder. Well, that document wasn't signed by the Public Prosecutor.

Forgetfulness, absent-mindedness, who knows?

Either way there was no signature on it.

Right. And?

Well, if the request for an investigation isn't signed,

that document is not legally valid.

So all activities or investigations as a result of that document are not legal.

Bloody listen to yourself!

What kind of theoretical crap is that?

And no one had noticed until now?

Well, the reality is that judges are drowning in paperwork

and so only read the documents that are relevant to them.

The only person who reads an entire file in detail is the procedure lawyer

and Mr De Groot has a good one.

So now what?

The error made is regarded by legislators as being so fundamental

that all activity arising from it must be declared invalid.

A signature is missing on a little piece of paper. So what?

The judges have recommended that the suspect be released.

What?

Later on today. At 5 p.m.

I'm sorry.

On the judges' instructions the suspect was released at 5 o'clock today.

No reaction from the Public Prosecutor

but the released suspect's lawyer gave a short statement.

Law and procedures must be adhered to.

Firstly by those responsible for their application.

These rules guarantee the correct administration ofjustice.

And these rules are neither flexible nor negotiable.

I imagine lots of people at home are wondering how come this could happen.

Yes, and understandably.

It isn't the first time someone has been released

or even found not guilty due to a procedural error.

But this is particularly upsetting

as it is essentially due to the lack of a signature on one document.

Has the suspect now been released for good?

The legal expression is that the criminal action is dismissed.

The Public Prosecutor's department can still bring action

but if the evidence collected at the time of arrest is declared invalid

then it becomes a problem.

Has there been any reaction from the Minister of Justice?

Yes, and we've heard it before.

I cannot comment on this specific case, of course.

There is a separation of powers in this country.

But I do understand the general public's indignation.

I can only repeat that my department has been busy computerizing the...

A WEEK LATER.

- Everything OK? - Yes.

- No. Sorry. I mean... - I know what you mean. Thank you.

Everyone feels so sorry for you, Luc.

But they don't know how to talk to you, what to say.

Sometimes I don't know what to say either, so I can't blame them, eh?

I'm glad you came. People have been asking after you.

Dear friends...

Our company can, certainly on a day like today,

look back on the past with satisfaction.

But it is, above all, the job of a company and it's CEO

to look to the future.

And, in order to better prepare Puype Logistics for the challenges

with which it will be faced in the years, the decades to come,

it is now time for this old soldier

to step aside

and, with the utmost confidence, hand over control to a younger man,

a man with experience, appetite, vision, talent

and, importantly, drive.

Dear friends, it gives me great pleasure to introduce you to our new CEO...

Wim De Vos!

Thank you.

- May I? - Of course.

- Luc, I hope... - You are the right man for the job.

If I were Karel, I would have made the same choice given the circumstances.

Thanks. That means a lot to me, it really does.