Methodology

Jorgen Van Laer, with his extensive experience in criminal law, was a trainer at the Bar Association responsible for training on assistance in interrogation. He gladly passes on this expertise to his motivated team in criminal law. Each vice lawyer has the certificate Supralat - Salduz training. Bannister lawyers is highly specialized in assistance in interrogation and subsequent criminal defense.

Suppose you receive an invitation for questioning. You are asked to present yourself to the police on a specified date to make a statement. As an attachment to your invitation to interrogation, you will find a statement of your rights that reminds you that you are entitled to the assistance of an attorney during your interrogation.

Often with this, you don't know where you stand. How serious is the case? What are the police allowed to do and what not? What are you entitled to?

It is particularly important to be properly assisted and protected from the early stages of criminal proceedings. Your role in the process starts (after all) at the time of interrogation. During interrogation, it is the lawyer's job to defend your rights and actively intervene where necessary. Care must also be taken (ensured) that no mistakes are made that could later have very serious consequences in the criminal proceedings. Thus, proper preparation is extremely important both before, during and after the interrogation.

Na ontvangst van de dagvaarding, kan er inzage worden genomen van het gehele strafdossier dat op de griffie voor u klaar ligt. Aan de hand van de inzage dient uw verdediging te worden voorbereid. In eerste instantie zal moeten nagegaan worden of de feiten lastens u al dan niet bewezen zijn. Is er ruimte voor betwisting van de zaak? In zedenzaken kan er een situatie zijn waarbij uw versie van de feiten afwijkt van het verhaal van het vermeende slachtoffer. Soms wordt u valselijke beschuldigd van een zedenfeit. Bij een valse aangifte is het zeer belangrijk dat u onmiddellijk een gespecialiseerde advocaat onder de arm neemt opdat de situatie niet escaleert. Wij zullen er alles aan doen om de waarheid naar boven te brengen en deze nachtmerrie zo spoedig mogelijk een halte toe roepen. Een onbetrouwbare en/of ongeloofwaardige verklaring dient uit de debattente worden geweerd. Eventueel na een verhoor van deze persoon ter zitting, waarbij hij of zij aan de tand kan worden gevoeld omtrent de waarachtigheid van de afgelegde verklaring. In geval van twijfel over uw schuld dient u te worden vrijgesproken. Daarenboven is het doen van een valse aangifte strafbaar. Wij bekijken graag met u de opties om juridische stappen te ondernemen teneinde een vergoeding te bekomen voor de gelden schade. De impact van een valse beschuldiging op uw leven mag en kan immers niet worden onderschat.

Even if you do not deny the facts, it is very important to make you specialized. The judge will have to attach a criminal consequence to the facts you are found guilty of. In order to minimize the consequences, we will work together on a comprehensive and under-construction rehabilitation and probation plan that can be presented to the judge. As specialists in vice cases, we are familiar with approved institutions offering mental health treatment and therapy. The judge must be convinced of your good intentions and the risk of committing new offenses in the future must be eliminated.

You were not aware that you had to answer to the court. There was a force majeure situation that kept you absent from the hearing. You were convicted in absentia. It is possible to lodge an objection within a period of fifteen days from the service of the judgment, or fifteen days from the knowledge of the judgment. The opposition must be filed by a judicial officer. If the opposition is filed in time and declared admissible, the case will be resumed.

If the opposition is timely filed and declared admissible, the case will be resumed. Your case will be heard in your presence this time. This will give you the opportunity to defend yourself, present legal arguments, explain your personal situation. You cannot be sentenced to a heavier sentence on opposition. Be sure to contact us to find out if you can appeal. If opposition is not possible, you may still be able to appeal.

You were not aware that you had to answer to the court. There was a force majeure situation that kept you absent from the hearing. You were convicted in absentia. It is possible to lodge an objection within a period of fifteen days from the service of the judgment, or fifteen days from the knowledge of the judgment. The opposition must be filed by a judicial officer. If the opposition is filed in time and declared admissible, the case will be resumed.

If the opposition is timely filed and declared admissible, the case will be resumed. Your case will be heard in your presence this time. This will give you the opportunity to defend yourself, present legal arguments, explain your personal situation. You cannot be sentenced to a heavier sentence on opposition. Be sure to contact us to find out if you can appeal. If opposition is not possible, you may still be able to appeal.

You were sentenced and you disagree with the decision. It is possible to file an appeal within thirty days of the verdict. The appeal is filed by a statement at the clerk's office of the correctional court. A grievance form must also be filed, reflecting criticism of the verdict.

Please note that you will not receive a letter with the date when there will be a verdict. You will be notified only at the time the case is argued. If the appeal is filed in time and the grievance form is properly filed, the case will be heard again before a higher court. Be sure to contact us to find out if you can file an appeal.