WECHELDERZANDE — 1995 · Murder
The Assassination of Vet Karel Van Noppen
Veterinary inspector Karel Van Noppen, who fought the illegal use of hormones in Belgian livestock farming, was shot dead one street from his home in Wechelderzande on the evening of 20 February 1995 by a man waiting by the road. He had been threatened several times but kept doing his job. The investigation found that the killing had been ordered by the network known as the 'hormone mafia'. In April 2002 four defendants were convicted: the man who ordered the killing received life, while the gunman, the organiser and the intermediary received 25 years each. The murder led Belgium to strengthen food-safety inspections and crack down on hormone trafficking; he was posthumously awarded the Prize for Democracy in 1996, and the case inspired the Oscar-nominated 2011 film 'Bullhead' (Rundskop).
- Date
- 1995
- Place
- Antwerp, Belgium, Wechelderzande, BE
- Category
- Murder
- Case Status
- Solved
- Coordinates
- 51.2650, 4.8000 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 20 February 1995Karel Van Noppen was shot near his home in Wechelderzande.
- 1995-1996The investigation showed the killing had been ordered by the hormone network.
- April 2002The man who ordered it received life; the other three received 25 years each.
- 2011The Oscar-nominated film 'Bullhead', inspired by the case, was released.
Sources
- VRT NWS — Van Noppen davası vrt.be ↗
- Wikipedia — Moord op Karel Van Noppen nl.wikipedia.org ↗
- VRT NWS
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.