Public prosecutor wants ‘grandpa Sloeber’ for assizes: man shook six-month-old baby so hard that it died in daycare (Domestic)

The date is February 16, 2022. Davina V., the manager of the daycare center ‘t Sloeberhuisje, is away to pick up her own two children from school. Her father Roxan V., who works full-time in the daycare, is alone with the children at that time.

Shortly after noon, the emergency services received an emergency call. Roxan V., nicknamed ‘Grandpa Sloeber’ is the man on the other end of the line. He explains that a child in the daycare center turns red and suddenly stops breathing. It concerns six-month-old baby Billie.

Shaken baby syndrome

The emergency services give the man instructions for first aid over the telephone. In the meantime, an ambulance leaves for Polderkenslaan in Mariakerke. When the baby arrives at the emergency department, it is almost immediately determined that the baby is affected by shaken baby syndrome. Doctors try to save her, but the girl eventually dies in hospital two days later.

The police arrested Roxan V. and his daughter Davina immediately after the facts. The man initially denies all allegations, but later adjusts his statement.

The drama marks the start of a year in which one daycare center after another comes into disrepute. Both CD&V minister Wouter Beke and Katrien Verhegge, CEO of the Growing Up Agency, had to resign shortly afterwards.

More than two years of research

After more than two years of investigation, the public prosecutor’s office, which does not wish to communicate further about the contents, has now prepared a final claim. According to judicial sources, the public prosecutor’s office wants to prosecute ‘grandpa Sloeber’ for manslaughter and bring him to the court of assizes. That would mean he intended to kill the baby when he shook her. The public prosecutor’s office is requesting another correctional process for unintentional manslaughter for his daughter. According to judicial sources, the public prosecutor’s office now accuses her of not taking sufficient responsibility for her daycare and the children. She would have known that her father often lost his temper and was not ‘suitable’ to look after the children alone. Jeroen Van Kerrebroeck, lawyer for Davina V., did not wish to respond yesterday.

READ ALSO: ‘Grandpa Sloeber’ had to resuscitate baby Billie, but one year ago the care provider even heard that he was being rough over the telephone

Negligence

The case may also be getting worse for the Growing Up Agency: the public prosecutor’s office wants to take the agency to court for negligence. It is accused of not taking measures quickly enough. In 2016, the Growing Up Agency already received extremely disturbing signals about (alleged) serious aggression. “He hits with the flat of his hand, shakes the children back and forth and throws them into bed,” was what was said about Roxan V. Afterwards, a whole series of complaints followed that did not paint a very nice picture. We contacted Nele Wouters, spokeswoman for the Growing Up Agency, last night, but we were unable to get a response.

The public prosecutor’s office also wants to take the Growing Up Agency to court for negligence. It is accused of not taking measures quickly enough

“We did not expect this at all,” says Kris Vincke, lawyer for Roxan V. “Manslaughter means that the public prosecutor believes that my client had the intention to kill the baby. That was not the case at all. It seems to us that the public prosecutor’s office mainly wants to set an example to society with this claim. At the time of the facts there were many such cases and now apparently people feel that a signal should be given.”

Charlotte Demaitre agrees with her colleague: “We are indeed surprised by the public prosecutor’s claim. Initially, my client was suspected of intentional assault and battery resulting in death, but now the public prosecutor’s office has changed the gun and the client is being prosecuted for manslaughter. We will further study the file in the coming period and will take a position at the scheduled hearing.”

Father and daughter were both locked up in prison for a time during the investigation. Davina was released shortly afterwards, but was sent back to prison about four months later. She was later released under conditions. Her father is now also free under conditions.

READ ALSO: Deceased baby appears not to be the only victim in daycare ‘t Sloeberhuisje: “The emergency doctor said: get your children out of there immediately”

People’s jury

The council chamber will make a decision on May 17. Specific to Roxan V.: if the council chamber believes that a referral to the assize court is justified, the indictment chamber will have to make the decision. In the case of the assize court, it will be a public trial with a people’s jury.