Junior Kabunda

Junior Pashi Kabunda (born 1991), known as The Monster of Brussels,[1] is a Belgian criminal and serial killer. After participating in the 2006 robbery-murder of Israeli pianist Benjamin Rawitz-Castel, he went on to murder his daughter and her grandmother three years later. For his latter crimes, he was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 25 years.[2]

Junior Kabunda
Born
Junior Pashi Kabunda

1991 (age 28–29)
Brussels, Belgium
Other names"The Monster of Brussels"
Conviction(s)Murder x3
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment plus 25 years
Details
Victims3
Span of crimes
2006–2009
CountryBelgium
State(s)Brussels
Date apprehended
2009
Imprisoned atNivelles Prison

Early life

Little is known about Kabunda's childhood. Born in the capital to Congolese parents in 1991, Junior was described as an unhappy boy who often clashed with those closest to him. As an adolescent, he joined a criminal gang, as well as dealing and using drugs in the area.[3]

On August 29, 2006, together with 22-year-old Laurent Oniemba, the two men were walking around Brussels in the middle of the night when they chanced upon Benjamin Rawitz-Castel, who was returning from a concert in Enegouwen, Hainaut. When they noticed that he was entering his Honda Civic,[4] Oniemba and Kabunda attacked him, beating Rawitz-Castel into unconsciousness and dragging his body to a nearby basement. When he temporarily came back to his senses, the elderly man asked what he had done, before being beaten again and succumbing to his injuries. After the deed was done, the two killers stole his car and sped off.[1] In March 2008, both were arrested for manslaughter, but as Junior was underage at the time, he was sent off to a youth facility instead of facing charges.

In September 2009, Kabunda was allowed to leave the facility, deciding to visit his girlfriend's family, which resided in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert. On September 20th, in a state of anger over doubts that he wasn't the father of the child, Kabunda proceeded to rape and murder 79-year-old Marcelle Deconinck, the grandmother, before proceeding to beat 18-year-old Anaïs to death as well.[2] In addition, he attempted to strangle his girlfriend Céline, leaving her for dead. Not long after, Junior was arrested and charged with both murders.

Arrest, trial and imprisonment

While imprisoned and awaiting trial for the familicides, guards from the Nivelles Prison discovered a SIM card in Kabunda's cell. Taking into account that he had allegedly told another prisoner of planning an escape, additional security measures were taken to prevent him from doing so.[5] On December 20, 2010, the Brussels court of assizes found him guilty of double murder, murder and attempted homicide, giving Junior a life imprisonment sentence plus 25 years.[2] This decision was later appealed by one of his lawyers, Yannick De Vlaeminck, citing procedural errors, but the request was shot down.[6]

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References
  1. "The brutal robbery of pianist Benjamin Rawitz" (in Dutch). Panorama.nl. May 23, 2013.
  2. "Junior Kabunda sentenced to life imprisonment" (in Dutch). De Morgen. December 20, 2010.
  3. "Junior Kabunda trial: 'I wished him death'" (in French). RTL.be. November 29, 2010.
  4. "Then one assizes process for Junior Kabunda" (in Dutch). Het Laatste Nieuws. June 17, 2010.
  5. "Junior Kabunda threatens to escape - jury is sitting together" (in Dutch). Het Belang van Limburg. December 16, 2010.
  6. "Junior Kabunda in cassation against conviction" (in Dutch). Het Nieuwsblad. January 13, 2011.
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