Mehdi Bouda
Mehdi Bouda, 17, died after being hit by a police car in Brussels, Belgium.
On August 20, 2019, Bouda was fleeing from officers who asked about his identity as part of a drug check. As he ran, he was hit by a police car, which was on its way to the scene of a burglary.
According to the original version, the car was driving at a speed of 98 km / h without sirens. Later, the investigation denied this version and established that the car was moving at a speed of 95 km / h, and that Bouda crossed the road against the light. In October 2020, the court found that there were no grounds for opening a criminal case.
The teen’s family said that the police informed them about Mehdi’s death only the next day and that the media presented the incident as if the drug dealer had died during the chase. In April 2021, Bouda’s family said they were unhappy with the court’s decision and that they would continue to fight for justice for him. In August 2021, was held an event dedicated to the memory of Mehdi Buda in Brussels. His brother said the family was still awaiting answers about his death.
MASS MEDIA ABOUT THE CASE:
“No serious element indicates the existence of a criminal offense committed by the protagonists in the case,” the public prosecutor’s office said.
An expert estimated that vehicle’s remaining velocity was 95 km/h before collision with the pedestrian, who “was only visible over a distance of 2.5 meters. The expert concludes that “if the police vehicle had been driven at a maximum speed of 50 km/h, the driver of the vehicle could not have done anything to avoid the collision with the pedestrian.”
CASE STATUS:
The initiative group has requested the clarification from Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden, Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo and Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne. The initiative group believes it is important to fight against police brutality and, if necessary, will provide legal and financial assistance to the family of the victim.