Skydiver Accused of Killing Love Rival Via Parachute

Prosecutors say she sabotaged victim's chutes
By Nx Doyle,  Newser User
Posted Sep 24, 2010 4:47 PM CDT Posted Sep 24, 2010 4:47 PM CDT
Promoted on Newser Sep 24, 2010 5:22 PM CDT
Woman on Trial for Skydive Murder
Belgian Els Clottemans, center, arrives at the courthouse in Tongeren, Belgium, Friday.   (AP)

A Belgian woman has gone on trial in Brussels, accused of murdering a love rival by sabotaging her parachute and causing her to plunge to her death. Els "Babs" Clottemans allegedly tampered with the main and reserve chutes of experienced skydiver Els Van Doran, who died after crashing into a garden in a Flemish town in November 2006, reports the Telegraph.

The object of Clottemans' desire, 25-year-old Marcel Somers, watched from the sky as Van Doran died. The three were regular skydivers and usually made a star formation before opening their chutes at 4,000 feet, but on this occasion Clottemans allegedly waited for the others to leave the plane. The court heard testimony that Clottemans is a "psychopath with dramatic features," but her attorney claims the prosecution has no proof. (More murder trial stories.)

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