{
    "title": "Paolo Falzone guilty of seven counts of manslaughter over Str\u00e9py-Bracquegnies tragedy",
    "modified_at": "2026-06-12 11:11:42",
    "published_at": "2026-06-12 11:11:00",
    "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/paolo-falzone-guilty-of-seven-counts-of-manslaughter-over-strepy-bracquegnies-tragedy",
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    "language": "EN",
    "slug": "paolo-falzone-guilty-of-seven-counts-of-manslaughter-over-strepy-bracquegnies-tragedy",
    "body": "<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>The Hainaut Court of Assizes has found Paolo Falzone guilty of seven counts of manslaughter for the </strong><a href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/authorities-await-toxicology-report-after-car-ploughs-into-carnival-crowd-killing-6-people\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>fatal collision that struck a carnival procession</strong></a><strong> in Str&eacute;py-Bracquegnies in March 2022. The jury delivered its verdict on the question of guilt on Friday.</strong></p><p style=\"text-align: left\">Falzone was also found guilty in connection with dozens of injured victims. However, the jury ruled that there was no premeditation in the death of carnival participant Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric D&#039;Andrea.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">In its reasoning, the jury stated that &quot;Paolo Falzone turned his powerful car into a weapon. The road was a playground for him.&quot; The court also noted that the BMW involved in the crash had been illegally modified.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">Antonino Falzone, Paolo Falzone&#039;s cousin and passenger at the time of the incident, was found guilty of negligent omission.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The tragedy occurred on 20 March 2022, when Paolo Falzone drove through a built-up area at a speed of 174 kilometres per hour before ploughing into a group of carnival-goers taking part in a Gilles parade. Seven people were killed, and dozens more were injured.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\">The trial now moves to the sentencing phase. Falzone faces a prison sentence of up to 30 years.</p><p style=\"text-align: left\"><sup><br>\u200bThe accused Paolo Falzone pictured during the verdict session of the trial of P. and A. Falzone, at the Court of Appeal of Mons, on Friday 12 June 2026. &copy; BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR</sup></p><hr /><p><strong>Related news</strong></p><div id=\"bookmark-eff3bf90-cb95-4d9a-8591-cb3f5e18cd71\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/jury-begins-deliberations-in-strepy-bracquegnies-carnival-tragedy-trial\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2Fea8896be-6bf8-4571-9ca0-aa1b0180563c%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=f889870ee1f60eed30c1df4ad966185f)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/jury-begins-deliberations-in-strepy-bracquegnies-carnival-tragedy-trial\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"eff3bf90-cb95-4d9a-8591-cb3f5e18cd71\"\n           >\n                Jury begins deliberations in Str\u00e9py-Bracquegnies carnival tragedy trial            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                The jury at the Hainaut Assize Court has begun deliberations in the trial of two men over the deadly 2022 crash that struck a carnival procession...            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2Fjury-begins-deliberations-in-strepy-bracquegnies-carnival-tragedy-trial&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            belganewsagency.eu        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n<div id=\"bookmark-022fb6a7-12fe-4b9e-bbc7-f978769667ae\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/trial-over-strepy-carnival-tragedy-to-begin-before-assize-court\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2Fce71f2a4-d308-4adf-b38d-418f4e281223%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=cf28548723ca18b177cd6b7b4ed25de6)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/trial-over-strepy-carnival-tragedy-to-begin-before-assize-court\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"022fb6a7-12fe-4b9e-bbc7-f978769667ae\"\n           >\n                Trial over Str\u00e9py carnival tragedy to begin before Assize Court            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                The substantive hearing in the trial over the Str\u00e9py-Bracquegnies carnival tragedy will begin on Monday before the Assize Court in Mons. Paolo...            </div>\n        \n        <a href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/\"\n           target=\"_blank\"\n           rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"\n           class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider\"\n        >\n            <img class=\"release-content-bookmark__provider-icon\" src=\"https://avatars.prezly.com/favicon?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.belganewsagency.eu%2Ftrial-over-strepy-carnival-tragedy-to-begin-before-assize-court&newsroom=6b71e247-a9ba-4732-aaa3-88be14c119db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" />\n            belganewsagency.eu        </a>\n    </div>\n</div>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>",
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    "links": [
        {
            "description": "Jury begins deliberations in Str\u00e9py-Bracquegnies carnival tragedy trial",
            "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/jury-begins-deliberations-in-strepy-bracquegnies-carnival-tragedy-trial"
        },
        {
            "description": "Trial over Str\u00e9py carnival tragedy to begin before Assize Court",
            "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/trial-over-strepy-carnival-tragedy-to-begin-before-assize-court"
        }
    ],
    "author": {
        "first_name": "Flanders",
        "last_name": "News Service"
    },
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}