Nicolas Ullens de Schooten is standing before an assize court on charges of murdering his 70-year-old stepmother, Myriam “Mimi” Lechien, on the driveway of the family’s home in Ohain, Walloon Brabant, derijkstebelgen.be reported. The March 29, 2023, shooting exposed deep financial rifts within the Belgian industrial family, contrasting public perceptions of billionaire status with a verified estate valued at approximately 100 million euros.
The ongoing legal proceedings have drawn intense scrutiny to the family dynamics surrounding the late Baron Guy Ullens de Schooten, a former minority shareholder of the Tiense Suikerfabriek. As the trial unfolds, court documents and witness testimonies detail how inheritance disputes and accusations of squandering a family fortune culminated in the fatal confrontation outside the residential property in Ohain.
Court Revelations Revise Baron Guy Ullens De Schooten's Net Worth
Public accounts in the general press previously characterized Baron Guy Ullens de Schooten as a billionaire following the 1989 sale of Tiense Suikerfabriek to the German firm Südzucker for just under 1 billion euros. However, court revelations place his actual net worth at the time of his passing last year at roughly 100 million euros, a figure complicated by a significant portfolio of physical and digital artworks.
The wealth generated from the Tiense Suiker sale was recycled through the Luxembourg-based holding company Artal. Guided by the consultancy firm Boston Consultancy, investor Eric Wittouck—an affine cousin of Guy Ullens—invested a portion of the proceeds into American multinational Weight Watchers, generating substantial returns. Wittouck subsequently bought out Guy Ullens’ Artal shares in the year 2000, separating their financial interests long before the family tragedy occurred.
The Fatal Confrontation in Ohain
On the morning of March 29, 2023, Nicolas Ullens arrived unannounced at the Ohain residence shared by his father, Guy Ullens, and stepmother Myriam Lechien. Father and son engaged in a tense discussion regarding family and financial matters before parting without reaching any agreement.
Nicolas Ullens lingered near the property until the couple departed by car for a scheduled medical appointment. He intercepted their vehicle, forced it to a stop, exited his car, and discharged six rounds at Lechien. The 70-year-old succumbed to her injuries at the scene, while her 88-year-old husband sustained a minor leg wound. Guy Ullens reportedly shouted at his son to shoot him as well, before Nicolas drove to a nearby police station, confessed to the homicide, and surrendered to authorities.
Philanthropy and Previous Public Scrutiny
The victim, Myriam Lechien, spent her early years in Germany where her father served as a Belgian army officer before attending boarding school in Belgium. At age 24, she launched a catering business named La Petite Salade and later operated a Brussels pastry shop, Sweetly, on Avenue Louise, where she met Guy Ullens in 1991. The couple married in 1999 and established an orphanage, a school, and two support centers for vulnerable children in Nepal.
Following her recovery from breast cancer, Lechien established the Mimi Ullens Foundation in 2006 to provide psychological support for cancer patients across seven oncological hospitals in Belgium, Switzerland, and France, later expanding to supply wigs. Her philanthropic efforts brought her into contact with members of the Belgian and British royal families. The couple also funded a museum in China dedicated to Chinese art, though the venture failed to attract sustained commercial success.
Prior to the 2023 homicide, Nicolas Ullens de Schooten entered the public eye in September 2019 by launching high-profile corruption allegations against Belgian politician Didier Reynders. Up until 2018, the younger Ullens had worked as a collaborator for the Belgian State Security service, bringing institutional tension into a family already fractured by disputes over assets and estate management.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Ullens Trial
Nicolas Ullens de Schooten is the son of Baron Guy Ullens from his first marriage, making Myriam Lechien his stepmother.
* How much was the Ullens family fortune actually worth? While general media reports previously labeled the family as billionaires, court documents estimate the estate at roughly 100 million euros, heavily tied up in variable art assets.
* What triggered the fatal shooting on March 29, 2023? The shooting followed an unresolved argument between Nicolas Ullens and his father regarding family finances and accusations that Lechien was squandering the family inheritance.