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18th Mar 2022

Man accused of killing teacher who ‘humiliated him in school’ 30 years ago

Kieran Galpin

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He was described as a ‘quiet, introverted boy’ at school

After being “humiliated” by his primary school teacher as a child, a man in Belgium confessed to stabbing her 101 times 30 years later.

Gunter Uwents told police that he’d never quite recovered from his experience with primary school teacher Maria Verlinden when he was seven years old. More than three decades later in November of 2020, it is believed that he visited her in the village of Noorderwijk, near Antwerp, and lost control – launching into a violent attack.

Uwents stabbed his former teacher – who was reported to be a devout Christian who regularly helped homeless people – 101 times, reports the Guardian.

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The violent stabbing was not solved for 16 months, even though hundreds of DNA samples were acquired at the scene. Nothing was stolen and despite a plea from Verlinden’s husband, no culprit was found.

That was until Uwents told his friend about the incident in “detailed explanations”. The friend then reported it to the police and consequently, the 37-year-old was arrested on March 13.

The victim’s sister, 62-year-old Lut Verlinden, also taught Uwents in the 1990’s, according to news outlet Het Nieuwsblad. She told them: “We are all confused. I have contacted all former colleagues with whom Gunter was in class, but no one can remember an incident between him and Maria.

“Gunter was always a quiet, introverted boy. There was nothing more to say about him. His parents are also very good Catholic people. I feel sorry for them, because they will never dare to show themselves in Noorderwijk again, I’m afraid.”

Local media suggests Uwents told officers he was “bullied, humiliated and belittled” by other students and that his teacher did nothing.

“When I raised my hand, she always pointed out someone else to answer – never me,” he told police. “And that made me very unhappy.”

Uwents claimed that he had only visited his teacher “for a good conversation,” but things took a sinister turn after Verlinden dubbed him a “dork.”

Police are yet to find the murder weapon, which Uwents claims he did not bring with him.

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