Jef Vermassen

Of Counsel

Jef Vermassen obtained both a doctorate in law and a licentiate in notarial law at KU Leuven in 1971. In 1973, he also obtained a licentiate in criminological sciences at the same university.

Since 1971, Jef Vermassen has been active as a lawyer at the Bar of Dendermonde. For five years, he served as a practical lecturer in criminal law and criminal procedure at KU Leuven. He also served for approximately thirty years as a deputy police court judge in Aalst. He was furthermore a member of the Order of Lawyers of Dendermonde and a deputy member of the Disciplinary Council for Lawyers.

Jef Vermassen specialises in criminal law. He handles cases before the Court of Assises, the criminal court and the court of appeal. He also has expertise in sentence enforcement proceedings and youth law (act constituting an offence committed by a minor — MOF).

He acquired renown in Flanders through his defence of suspects and victims in all manner of sensitive and complex homicide cases.

One of his first high-profile cases was the defence of Freddy Horion, during which he spoke out against the death penalty. Over the course of his career, he has secured sixteen acquittals before the Court of Assises.

He has also appeared in several other widely reported cases, including that of the Belgian biological father of Baby D., the murders of Oulematou Niangadou and Luna Drowart, and the voluntary manslaughter of Guido Demoor. He has also represented the families of Els Van Doren, Annick Van Uytsel and several victims in the process of Kim De Gelder.

Jef Vermassen has the ability to view complex legal cases through a clear and simple lens and to explain them lucidly. For this reason, he is a frequently sought-after commentator on radio and television in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Alongside his work as a lawyer, Jef Vermassen has built an extensive public career. In 2004, he received the VRG Alumni Prize from KU Leuven. He has also committed himself to various charitable causes, including as a board member of LEIF and as a patron of projects for former child soldiers in Uganda and girls' education in Tanzania. In 2018, he was made an honorary citizen of Lede.

He is moreover the author of the successful books Moordenaars en hun motieven, Meester, ik heb geen tranen meer and Seriemoordenaars.

Contact

Kasteeldreef 48

9340 Lede

+32 (0)53 80 45 70