Returning home unexpectedly, he discovers his wife's lover and beats him to death

Walt W., who beat his wife's lover to death in March 2025, has been released from prison under electronic monitoring following a decision by the Antwerp indictment chamber. The Mechelen pretrial chamber had initially extended his detention, but the defense appealed. The investigation into the events continues.

In early March 2025, the 44-year-old suspect returned home earlier than planned. He was supposed to be leaving on a business trip but had forgotten something and intended to rush back to his house on Paardenkerkhofstraat in Mechelen. He found a stranger there: a 53-year-old man, his wife's lover, as she was away at the time.

A violent fight

The argument between the two men quickly escalated, and a fight broke out. The man in his forties repeatedly struck his opponent until he lost consciousness. He then called the police himself, stating that he had killed his wife's lover. Emergency services arrived at the scene, but the victim succumbed to his injuries. The man was arrested that same evening. An investigating judge issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of homicide.

The man had been in pretrial detention since then. A reconstruction of the events took place four months after the incident.

The man will likely be sent to trial.

Recently, the pre-trial chamber had extended his detention by two months, but the defense appealed. The indictment chamber, however, decided that he could continue serving his pre-trial detention under house arrest with an electronic monitoring bracelet.

Once the investigation is complete, the man will likely have to answer for his crime in court.