Paolo Falzone convicted of seven murders in 2022 Strépy carnival crash, premeditation not upheld

The verdict

After more than two days of deliberation, the twelve-person jury in the Hainaut assize court returned its verdict on 12 June 2026. Paolo Falzone (38) was convicted on seven counts of murder for the 20 March 2022 crash. The jury found that Falzone had deliberately killed the victims, rejecting the defence argument that the episode was a traffic accident without homicidal intent. However, the aggravating circumstance of premeditation was not retained for the death of Frédéric D'Andrea, the carnival participant who clung to the car's bonnet before falling and being run over. The passenger Antonino Falzone was found guilty of failing to assist persons in danger.

If there are multiple possibilities, you must accept the version most favourable to the accused. That is the law.

What happened

On the morning of 20 March 2022, shortly after 5 a.m., Paolo Falzone drove his illegally modified BMW at roughly 174 km/h (108 mph) along Rue des Canadiens in Strépy-Bracquegnies, a street with a 50 km/h limit. He was holding a phone, filming his speedometer, and had been drinking. The car slammed into a group of some 150 to 200 carnival revellers who had just left a sports hall to begin their door-to-door procession. Police later called the scene devastating: seven people died and 36 others were wounded. Frédéric D'Andrea was carried on the bonnet for about 22 seconds before falling and being fatally run over.

I am aware I drove like a madman, like an irresponsible person, but I never wanted to kill anyone. I ask forgiveness from all the victims.

The trial and its key questions

At the heart of the trial was whether Falzone had consciously chosen to drive into the crowd. The prosecution and civil parties argued he had turned his car into a weapon. The defence contended he was surprised by the crowd and had tried to brake, decelerating from 105 km/h to 31 km/h in 1.33 seconds. The jury had to answer 322 questions on culpability. In the end, it sided with the prosecution on the essential point of intentional killing but rejected the charge of premeditated murder.

Reactions and what comes next

Grégory D'Andrea, Frédéric's brother, spoke in court without a lawyer and later said Falzone had been condemned for what he did. Sentencing arguments are scheduled to begin on Monday, 15 June, and the court is expected to rule on the penalty on Wednesday, 17 June. Without the premeditation finding, Falzone faces a maximum of thirty years' imprisonment rather than life.