MONS, BELGIUM - JUNE 17 :  Frank Discepoli, lawyer of Paolo Falzone pictured the day of the sentencing of the P. and A.  Falzone trial : the trial concerns the Strépy-Bracquegnies tragedy of 2022, in which a car crashed into a carnival procession, killing seven people and injuring many others on June 17, 2026 in Mons, Belgium, 17/06/2026 ( Photo by Philip Reynaers / PhotonewsMONS, BELGIUM - JUNE 17 :  Frank Discepoli, lawyer of Paolo Falzone pictured the day of the sentencing of the P. and A.  Falzone trial : the trial concerns the Strépy-Bracquegnies tragedy of 2022, in which a car crashed into a carnival procession, killing seven people and injuring many others on June 17, 2026 in Mons, Belgium, 17/06/2026 ( Photo by Philip Reynaers / PhotonewsMe Discepoli n’est pas surpris. ( Photo by Philip Reynaers / Photonews ©PRE

Pour l’avocat, il ne s’agit pas d’une déception. La peine prononcée est, selon lui, à la hauteur du drame survenu le 20 mars 2022, rue des Canadiens, à Strépy-Bracquegnies. « C’est une décision assez équilibrée », dit-il.

Me Guttadauria : « Il est soulagé »

De son côté, Me Fabrice Guttadauria avait plaidé une peine de probation autonome pour Antonino Falzone. Une demande rejetée par la cour et le jury, qui ont estimé que ce dernier avait fait preuve « d’inhumanité » et « d’égoïsme » envers les victimes restées coincées dans l’habitacle du véhicule après son immobilisation, rue Aubry.

Le verdict constitue néanmoins un soulagement pour Antonino Falzone. Jamais placé sous mandat d’arrêt, il avait été remis en liberté par le juge d’instruction dès le lendemain des faits, après sa première audition. Il évite aujourd’hui une peine de prison ferme. La cour a toutefois estimé qu’une probation autonome n’était pas adaptée et lui a infligé une peine de deux ans d’emprisonnement, assortie d’un sursis probatoire de trois ans.

MONS, BELGIUM - JUNE 17 :  Fabrice Guttadauria, lawyer of Antonino Falzone pictured the day of the sentencing of the P. and A.  Falzone trial : the trial concerns the Strépy-Bracquegnies tragedy of 2022, in which a car crashed into a carnival procession, killing seven people and injuring many others on June 17, 2026 in Mons, Belgium, 17/06/2026 ( Photo by Philip Reynaers / PhotonewsMONS, BELGIUM - JUNE 17 :  Fabrice Guttadauria, lawyer of Antonino Falzone pictured the day of the sentencing of the P. and A.  Falzone trial : the trial concerns the Strépy-Bracquegnies tragedy of 2022, in which a car crashed into a carnival procession, killing seven people and injuring many others on June 17, 2026 in Mons, Belgium, 17/06/2026 ( Photo by Philip Reynaers / PhotonewsMe Guttadauria est satisfait. ( Photo by Philip Reynaers / Photonews ©PRE

Pour son avocat, son client est avant tout soulagé de savoir qu’il n’aura pas à purger sa peine derrière les barreaux. « Cette peine lui laisse l’espoir de retourner à son anonymat, de reprendre une vie professionnelle et de s’occuper de sa famille ».

Parties civiles

Du côté des parties civiles, Me Mayence estime que la peine prononcée contre Paolo Falzone correspond à la gravité des faits « et elle satisfait l’ensemble des parties civiles ».

Lawyer Elena D'Agristina and Civil party lawyer Jean-Philippe Mayence pictured during the sentence at the trial of P. and A. Falzone, at the assize court of Hainaut Province, in Mons, on Wednesday 17 June 2026. The trial of the two men concerns the 2022 tragedy in Strepy-Bracquegnies, where a car plowed into a carnival parade around 5:00. Six people died at the scene, and a seventh months later in the hospital. P. Falzone was found guilty for seven murders and 79 attempted murders. A. Falzone was found guilty of 59 failure to assist a person in danger. P. Falzone is sentenced to 27 years in prison. A. Falzone receives a 2-year suspended sentence BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOURLawyer Elena D'Agristina and Civil party lawyer Jean-Philippe Mayence pictured during the sentence at the trial of P. and A. Falzone, at the assize court of Hainaut Province, in Mons, on Wednesday 17 June 2026. The trial of the two men concerns the 2022 tragedy in Strepy-Bracquegnies, where a car plowed into a carnival parade around 5:00. Six people died at the scene, and a seventh months later in the hospital. P. Falzone was found guilty for seven murders and 79 attempted murders. A. Falzone was found guilty of 59 failure to assist a person in danger. P. Falzone is sentenced to 27 years in prison. A. Falzone receives a 2-year suspended sentence BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOURMe Mayence est satisfait BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR ©Belgaimage

Me De Beco retient que les juges ont tenu compte des avertissements que Paolo Falzone avait eus en raison de sa conduite dangereuse. « Il savait que cela allait se terminer comme ça ».

Civil party lawyer Dimitri De Beco pictured during the trial of P. and A. Falzone, at the Court of Appeal of Mons, on Tuesday 02 June 2026. The trial of the two men concerns the 2022 tragedy in Strepy-Bracquegnies, where a car plowed into a carnival parade around 5:00. Six people died at the scene, and a seventh months later in the hospital. P. Falzone is charged with seven murder and 81 attempted murder. A. Falzone with failure to render aid to a person in danger. This is the fifth week of this extraordinary trial, the pleadings started. BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOURCivil party lawyer Dimitri De Beco pictured during the trial of P. and A. Falzone, at the Court of Appeal of Mons, on Tuesday 02 June 2026. The trial of the two men concerns the 2022 tragedy in Strepy-Bracquegnies, where a car plowed into a carnival parade around 5:00. Six people died at the scene, and a seventh months later in the hospital. P. Falzone is charged with seven murder and 81 attempted murder. A. Falzone with failure to render aid to a person in danger. This is the fifth week of this extraordinary trial, the pleadings started. BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOURDimitri De Beco insiste sur les avertissements. BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR ©Belgaimage

Me Gelay, avocat des enfants de Salvatore Impériale partage le désarroi de ses clients quant à la peine infligée à Antonino Falzone, lequel n’a pas prêté secours à Salvatore, coincé dans l’habitacle de l’auto. La mesure de sursis « est très compliquée à entendre pour eux ».

Accused Paolo Falzone, Accused Antonino Falzone and Civil party lawyer David Gelay pictured during the trial of P. and A. Falzone, at the Court of Appeal of Mons, on Monday 01 June 2026. The trial of the two men concerns the 2022 tragedy in Strepy-Bracquegnies, where a car plowed into a carnival parade around 5:00. Six people died at the scene, and a seventh months later in the hospital. P. Falzone is charged with seven murder and 81 attempted murder. A. Falzone with failure to render aid to a person in danger. This is the fifth week of this extraordinary trial, the pleadings started.
BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOURAccused Paolo Falzone, Accused Antonino Falzone and Civil party lawyer David Gelay pictured during the trial of P. and A. Falzone, at the Court of Appeal of Mons, on Monday 01 June 2026. The trial of the two men concerns the 2022 tragedy in Strepy-Bracquegnies, where a car plowed into a carnival parade around 5:00. Six people died at the scene, and a seventh months later in the hospital. P. Falzone is charged with seven murder and 81 attempted murder. A. Falzone with failure to render aid to a person in danger. This is the fifth week of this extraordinary trial, the pleadings started.
BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOURMe Gelay partage la déception de ses clients.
BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR ©Belgaimage