1. De Moord op de Barones
Summary
In this episode of Stem van Assisen, hosts Cédric Lagast and Bavo Vermeulen explore the 1896 murder of Baroness Herry in Brussels, examining how detectives solved crimes without modern forensic technology. They detail how Commissioner Garot tracked the stolen safe via carriage drivers and identified former police star Alexandre Courtois as the prime suspect. The episode covers Courtois’s trial, his conviction for the robbery-murder, and the public’s mixed reaction to the fall of a beloved lawman.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Investigating murders without modern forensic tools
The mysterious murder of Baroness Delphine Angelica Borré
Victim profile and the crime scene details
Discovery of the body and initial police response
Commissioner Garot's investigation: tracking the safe
The exchange agent identifies the suspect from a sketch
The suspect is a famous police commissioner, Alexandre Courtois
Courtois' motive, accomplices, and arrest
The trial begins: Courtois' weak alibi and defense
Verdict: Death sentence for Courtois and accomplices
Public reaction and the execution of the sentence
Conclusion and preview of next week's episode
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