Renaud Hardy

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox serial killer | name = Renaud Hardy | image = | image_size = | caption = | alt = | birth_name = | other_names = "The Parkinson's Murderer" | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|04|01|df=y}} | birth_place = Mechelen, Belgium | death_date = | death_place = | cause = | conviction = Murder | sentence = Life imprisonment | victims = 3 | beginyear = 2009 | endyear = 2015 | country = Belgium | states = Flemish Community | apprehended = 21 September 2015 | imprisoned = }} '''Renaud Hardy''' (born 1 April 1962), known as '''The Parkinson's Murderer''', is a Belgian serial killer who was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, rape and attempted murder in 2018.

== Arrest == On 16 September 2015, Linda Doms was murdered in Zemst, Flemish Brabant. Her corpse was discovered a few days later by a neighbour. Several people were interviewed, including Hardy, a former friend of Doms. Initially, the investigators had no evidence of Hardy's involvement and he was released. When the investigators found images on Hardy's memory card showing the crime scene, Hardy was rearrested on 21 September 2015.

During the arrest, the Mechelen court again opened an investigation into older files. From DNA traces a link was established to the murder of 82-year-old Marie Walschaerts, which was committed in Leest in May 2014, and an attempted murder in September 2014 in Bonheiden. He is also the suspected perpetrator of an attack on Belgian actress Veerle Eyckermans in February 2015, who at the time lived near Hardy. He is also considered responsible for the murder of an 85-year-old in Boortmeerbeek in December 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hln.be/nieuws/binnenland/renaud-hardy-blijft-in-de-cel-in-moorddossier-linda-doms~a142d3fe/|title=Renaud Hardy blijft in de cel in moorddossier Linda Doms|website=hln.be|language=nl|access-date=2018-03-08}}</ref>

Hardy had been arraigned a week before Doms' murder, with the help of sex offender Doris Corbeel, because in 2014 he had shot a passer-by with an air gun. In his own words, he saw the woman riding on the bike and suddenly had the urge to harm her.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hln.be/nieuws/binnenland/mechelse-seriedoder-krijgt-jaar-cel-met-uitstel-voor-aanval-met-loodjesgeweer~a7d92a03/|title=Mechelse seriedoder krijgt jaar cel met uitstel voor aanval met loodjesgeweer|website=hln.be|language=nl|access-date=2018-03-08}}</ref>

== Parkinson's == In 2007, doctors diagnosed Hardy with Parkinson's disease. The disease and its influence on his actions received much attention during his trial, with some Belgian media even calling him the "Parkinson's murderer".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hln.be/nieuws/binnenland/-parkinsonmoordenaar-blijft-aangehouden~adb8d8f0/|title='Parkinsonmoordenaar' blijft aangehouden|website=hln.be|language=nl|access-date=2018-03-08}}</ref> It was also mentioned that he took medicine to treat the disease, where a well-known neurologist, Chris Van Der Linden, stated that he had become a murderer due to the addicting medication.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hln.be/nieuws/binnenland/-topdokter-van-der-linden-quot-hardy-wordt-pas-seriemoordenaar-op-moment-dat-hij-parkinsonmedicatie-neemt-quot~ac84fd03/|title='Topdokter' Van der Linden: "Hardy wordt pas seriemoordenaar op moment dat hij parkinsonmedicatie neemt"|website=hln.be|language=nl|access-date=2018-03-08}}</ref> Also during the trial, Hardy's defence often cited the disease as a mitigating factor.

== Condemnation == The trial began on 9 February 2018. After almost a month, on 8 March 2018, Hardy was declared guilty by the people's jury.<ref>[https://www.hln.be/nieuws/binnenland/volksjury-verklaart-renaud-hardy-over-volledige-lijn-schuldig-quot-hij-handelde-weloverwogen-en-gepland-quot~a1285e84/ Volksjury verklaart Renaud Hardy over volledige lijn schuldig: “Hij handelde weloverwogen en gepland”], ''hln.be'', 7 maart 2018</ref> He was sentenced to life imprisonment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hln.be/nieuws/binnenland/renaud-hardy-reageert-emotioneel-nadat-hij-tot-levenslang-veroordeeld-werd-zijn-brief-voor-actrice-eyckermans-wordt-onderschept~ad144726/|title=Renaud Hardy reageert emotioneel nadat hij tot levenslang veroordeeld werd, zijn brief voor actrice Eyckermans wordt onderschept|website=hln.be|language=nl|access-date=2018-03-08}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hardy, Renaud}} Category:1962 births Category:Belgian people convicted of murder Category:Belgian people convicted of rape Category:Belgian rapists Category:Belgian serial killers Category:Living people Category:People convicted of attempted murder Category:People from Mechelen