Suspect of murder of Annie De Poortere “provides all cooperation” and leaves prison with ankle bracelet

78-year-old Hans D., who is suspected of the murder in 1994 of his then wife Annie De Poortere in Sint-Martens-Latem, “is fully cooperating” with the investigation. This is what his lawyer Ashley Bickx says, who does not yet want to make any substantive statement about the file.

Due to the holiday on Wednesday, the suspect remained in Dendermonde prison awaiting the installation of his ankle monitor, but has now left it under electronic surveillance.

On Saturday, April 27, the remains of a body were found in Kerkstraat in Sint-Martens-Latem during renovation work next to the former home of Annie De Poortere, who disappeared on November 12, 1994. Based on “several strong indications”, the public prosecutor’s office suspects shows that the remains belong to the then 48-year-old woman. An investigating judge was summoned to investigate the death and the woman’s family was informed.

READ ALSO. How house painter Hans D. walked around with a huge secret about his disappeared wife for 30 years, until renovations killed him

De Poortere’s then husband, the now 78-year-old Hans D., was arrested and extensively interrogated. The woman’s relatives were told that the man admitted that he hid the body, but that he denied that he killed the woman. The investigation must reveal what his actual role was in the victim’s death, says the public prosecutor’s office, which does not provide further details.

READ ALSO. How did Annie De Poortere die? Was her husband never in the crosshairs of investigators before? We already know this and these questions remain unanswered

The investigating judge decided on Tuesday to arrest the man on suspicion of murder and place him under electronic surveillance. He will appear before the council chamber in Ghent on Friday, but it has not yet been decided whether he will be present in person.