Three young men have been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the death of David Polfliet, a case that initially sparked concerns about homophobia but ultimately centered on a botched robbery attempt. The sentences were handed down on Tuesday, March 11, 2026, following a trial at the Ghent Court of Assizes, according to multiple news reports.
The three defendants – identified only as K.B., L.N., and R.P. – were found guilty on Monday, March 10, 2026, of attempted robbery with violence, which led to Polfliet’s death. While the court determined the men did not intend to kill Polfliet, his death was a direct result of their actions. The sentencing phase followed the guilty verdict.
The incident dates back to March 5, 2021, when the three, then minors, lured Polfliet to a park using the dating app Grindr, a platform geared toward gay and bisexual men. They had created a false profile and exchanged 512 messages with Polfliet, posing as a 16-year-aged seeking a paid encounter, as detailed by the court president.
The defendants claimed they intended only to “teach him a lesson,” believing Polfliet was a predator. Yet, a fight ensued, during which Polfliet was stabbed in the leg with a knife, ultimately proving fatal. Initial speculation suggested the crime was motivated by homophobia, but investigators were unable to substantiate those claims, according to De Standaard.
“It has been established that they wanted to rob him and teach him a lesson,” the court president stated in the initial ruling. The case highlights the dangers of online encounters and the potential for violence when individuals take the law into their own hands.
Family members expressed relief that justice had been served, stating that the conviction and sentencing helped to clear Polfliet’s name after he was initially portrayed negatively. As reported by De Krantenkoppen, a family member said, “A picture of our brother was hung as a pedophile. That has been rectified today.”
The court’s decision brings a close to a highly publicized case that has drawn attention to issues of online safety and the complexities of assigning intent in violent crimes. VRT News provided ongoing coverage of the trial and its outcome.
