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Belgian man who skipped 100 restaurant bills is killed Belgian man who skipped 100 restaurant bills is killed
(35 minutes later)
He was a “happy-go-lucky” guy who was notorious for spicing up life on benefits in the medieval Belgian town of Ghent by strolling into a restaurant, calmly ordering lobster washed down with the finest brandy or some other gastronomic delight and then walking out without paying the bill.He was a “happy-go-lucky” guy who was notorious for spicing up life on benefits in the medieval Belgian town of Ghent by strolling into a restaurant, calmly ordering lobster washed down with the finest brandy or some other gastronomic delight and then walking out without paying the bill.
But, after 100 or so incidents spread over a five-year But, after 100 or so incidents spread over a five-year spree, Titus Clarysse has turned up dead, prompting police to launch an investigation of “murder or manslaughter”.
spree, Titus Clarysse has turned up dead, prompting police to launch an Newspapers reported that he had been stabbed, but police refused to confirm this and there was no immediate indication of the motive.
investigation of “murder or manslaughter”. However, his past as an unrepentant freeloader is almost certainly a focus of the investigation and questions on detective’s minds will surely include: Did he push a hot-headed chef too far, was he killed by a keenly sharpened Sabatier and just what was his last meal?
Newspapers reported that he had been stabbed, but police Tim Joiris, head of the Ghent region restaurant and hotel federation, struggled to believe anyone could have gone so far.
refused to confirm this and there was no immediate indication of the motive. “Curse him? Maybe. But kill him? That makes no sense,” he said.
However, his past as an unrepentant freeloader is almost
certainly a focus of the investigation and questions on detective’s minds will
surely include: Did he push a hot-headed chef too far, was he killed by a
keenly sharpened Sabatier and just what was his last meal?
Tim Joiris, head of the Ghent region restaurant and hotel
federation, struggled to believe anyone could have gone so far.
“Curse him? Maybe. But kill him? That makes no sense,” he
said.
Detectives might do well to speak to Mr Joiris, as restaurant owners would often come to him to complain.Detectives might do well to speak to Mr Joiris, as restaurant owners would often come to him to complain.
“It was trouble for everyone. And what's worse, for long “It was trouble for everyone. And what's worse, for long nobody knew how really to deal with it,” he said.
nobody knew how really to deal with it,” he said. “In the end, we knew his face, but you know, on a busy terrace in summer, full of people, he knew how to blend in.
“In the end, we knew his face, but you know, on a busy “He did it all, the grand restaurants, the terraces. He really tried them all.”
terrace in summer, full of people, he knew how to blend in. Mr Clarysse was a “tafelschuimer” — someone who takes everything, even the crumbs, off the table.
“He did it all, the grand restaurants, the terraces. He “He was asking for it all — the whole menu,” Mr Joiris said with a laugh. “He would sit and wait after the meal — another beer, a brandy.
really tried them all.” “We are not talking about an aggressive guy. He was just happy-go-lucky about it.”
Mr Clarysse was a “tafelschuimer” — someone who takes Mr Joiris said that tales of people being forced to do the dishes if they could not afford to pay were “a myth”.
everything, even the crumbs, off the table. Titus Clarysse was known around Ghent (Rex)
“He was asking for it all — the whole menu,” Mr Joiris said
with a laugh. “He would sit and wait after the meal — another beer, a brandy. Restaurants in Ghent, a medieval university town with gabled fronts and terraces on cobblestones, attract an international and varied clientele.
“We are not talking about an aggressive guy. He was just Police spokeswoman Annemie Sirlippens said the 35-year-old Clarysse was found dead in his apartment on Monday night. She said they were looking for suspects in what she called “a case of murder or manslaughter”. 
happy-go-lucky about it.” On his exploits in restaurant, she said: “We are talking about 100 incidents spread over several convictions.”
Mr Joiris said that tales of people being forced to do the De Standaard newspaper reported he was living on municipal welfare and often seemed to have what the paper described as the wrong kind of friends.
dishes if they could not afford to pay were “a myth”. The website Deredactie.be said that Mr Clarysse’s body had been found by his father. It added that Mr Clarysse had been given a six-month prison sentence and a 1,650-euro fine for failing to pay restaurant bills.
Restaurants in Ghent, a medieval university town with gabled
fronts and terraces on cobblestones, attract an international and varied
clientele.
Police spokeswoman Annemie Sirlippens said the 35-year-old
Clarysse was found dead in his apartment on Monday night. She said they were
looking for suspects in what she called “a case of murder or
manslaughter”. 
On his exploits in restaurant, she said: “We are talking
about 100 incidents spread over several convictions.”
De Standaard newspaper reported he was living on municipal
welfare and often seemed to have what the paper described as the wrong kind of
friends.
The website Deredactie.be said that Mr Clarysse’s body had
been found by his father. It added that Mr Clarysse had been given a six-month
prison sentence and a 1,650-euro fine for failing to pay restaurant bills.