Former Victim and Acquaintance Speak Out About Grégory Lenoci
New witnesses are speaking out about Grégory Lenoci, the 49-year-old man from Jambes near Namur who was sentenced to 17 years in prison after attempting to kill his neighbor.
Lenoci attacked the man because he suspected him of sexually abusing his stepson. His conviction sparked strong reactions in Belgium. While some people said the sentence was justified because no one has the right to take the law into their own hands, others described Lenoci as a father who was trying to protect his stepson. An online fundraiser was even launched for his family and raised nearly 100,000 euro.
But new testimony from a former victim and a man who has known Lenoci since childhood paints a much darker picture of his past.
A Former Victim Says She Still Lives With Fear
A woman who says she was previously threatened and assaulted by Lenoci has spoken publicly about the lasting impact of what happened to her.
“Physically, I’m doing fine, but psychologically, it’s a disaster,” she said.
Years after the incident, she says she is still afraid of seeing Lenoci on the street or running into people connected to him. She says the attack changed her completely and that she is no longer the same person she was before.
The woman was unable to work for months following the incident. Although a court ordered compensation estimated at between 30,000 and 40,000 euro, she says she never received the money because Lenoci could not afford to pay it.
She also said she finds it painful to see people donating money to someone who, according to her, has harmed other people.
“I find it sad that people spend money on people who have hurt others,” she said, adding that the money could instead be used to compensate her and other victims.
“He Thought He Was Al Capone”
Another man who has known Lenoci since he was young also described a troubling history.
The acquaintance told Sudinfo that Lenoci became part of a gang when he was around 14 years old and that people in the area were afraid of the group.
“He thought he was Al Capone,” the man said. “He spread terror wherever he went.”
The acquaintance described Lenoci as dangerous and said he hopes Lenoci never returns to Gembloux.
His comments come as public attention continues to focus on Lenoci’s latest conviction and the circumstances surrounding the attack on his neighbor.
Lenoci Appeals 17-Year Prison Sentence
Lenoci is currently serving a 17-year prison sentence. The court also imposed an additional 10 years of judicial supervision. He has appealed the verdict.
The man Lenoci allegedly tried to kill remains alive through artificial life support, according to the report.
The case has remained controversial because Lenoci said he believed his neighbor had abused his stepson. However, the court’s decision reflects the legal consequences of attempting to take justice into one’s own hands.
Previous Convictions
Lenoci also has previous convictions for violence. In August 2018, he was involved in a fight at a café. He knocked the owner unconscious and then badly damaged the business’s interior. He was sentenced to two years in prison for the incident.
While serving that sentence, Lenoci was convicted again after another violent incident.
Attack on a Deaf Prisoner
In July 2020, Lenoci attacked a deaf inmate at Dinant prison. According to the report, he struck the man and continued hitting him even after the prisoner had fallen to the ground.
Lenoci received another 18-month prison sentence for that attack.
The latest testimony from his former victim and longtime acquaintance adds another layer to the case. While public debate has focused heavily on the circumstances of his latest conviction, those who say they were victims of Lenoci are now describing the longer-term impact they say his actions have had on their lives.
