In a shocking turn of events, a 78-year-old Belgian man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his companion 30 years ago. The arrest came after human remains were discovered during excavation work in the man's garden, leading to the reopening of a cold case.

The suspect, identified as Hans D., was apprehended this week and charged with the alleged murder. As a precautionary measure, he has been fitted with an electronic tracking bracelet. Hans D. is scheduled to appear in court in the city of Ghent on Friday for a decision on the duration and conditions of his detention.

The investigation was reignited when the homeowner in Sint-Martens-Latem, a village near Ghent, had workers dig up his garden. Upon finding the human remains last Saturday, authorities swiftly deduced that the body could be that of a woman who had gone missing in 1994 at the age of 48. The missing woman was reportedly the companion of the now-arrested Hans D.

Ashley Bicx, the lawyer representing the suspect, stated that his client is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. The woman, identified as Annie De Poortere by the Brussels Times, disappeared on November 12, 1994. The case had gone cold for five years, resulting in her being officially declared "absent" by a Ghent court, as reported by the outlet.

Accounts from the suspect's past surfaced, providing various explanations regarding Annie De Poortere's disappearance. In a 1999 interview with a television reporter, Hans D. claimed that she went missing one evening while he was out shopping at a supermarket and watching a football game.

The discovery of the remains brings to light the effectiveness of collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies. Last year, Interpol launched a web page where police across Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands can exchange confidential information about unsolved cases. As a result, Interpol revealed in November that approximately two dozen unidentified deceased women linked to those three countries have now been identified.

The arrest of Hans D. and the subsequent developments have once again brought attention to a 30-year-old murder case that has haunted the community for decades. As the investigation unfolds, the court hearing on Friday in Ghent will shed more light on the period and conditions of the suspect's detention, bringing a glimmer of hope for justice and closure for the family and friends of Annie De Poortere.