From the description is obvious that the motive wasn't a robbery, but to kill a well known Jew. They took tha car to escape from the scene. The police of a filled with Arans city is not interested to investigate it as a hate-crime, because Brussels during the WWII actively participated in Hollocaust. If they just wanted to steal his wallet or the car, it was no need to kill him because his car was, with high probability, insured from theft and pocket money wasn't his last.

Coincidentally, I'm hearing chamber music by a German composer..oh that gutteral German gets to me. Sometimes an ounce of prevention is worth one's life. I ask, why did this Israeli, living in the former anti-Semitic city (thousands died in Belgium at the cruel hands of the NAZIs), not have adequate security? After all, he was not your average citizen..with lots of exposure. Why are Jews stabbed constantly in "Jewish" cities..Jerusalem, and elsewhere. Whether a hate crime or not, the person is still assaulted and typcially the crime not solved. Is it that Jews are afraid to have security? Why don't they walk in 2s or 3s? Why if living alone, are homes protected..patrols? This pianst lost his life for a few shekels, for nothing. Very sad.

Jeez...get your head out of your ass. What...now anything that happens to any jew anywhere is a hate crime? Things like this actually do happen to jews too just by chance.

My daughter is a student at the Conservatory,and she just returmed to Brussels and found out. She is shocked and terrified. She tells me he was a good person.

A Belgian Christian 17-year-old was stabbed to death for an MP3 player in one of Brussels' main railway stations in broad daylight a few weeks ago. His assassin was a probably equally Christian Pole. Dave Levi who says in this talkback that many thousands of Jews died in Belgium at the cruel hands of the Nazis might like to know that thousands of Jews were saved by Catholics in occupied Belgium. Many moore than in neighboring Holland and France. It is tragic enough when a gentle person like this falls victim to such barbaric depravity. Don't read into it more than there is.

I met Benjamin several times, he was a modest and engaging individual. I just learnt of this horrific death through the Internet and it has chilled me to the bone. I never knew that he was such a celebrity in the music world. Granted that this could have been your average burglary turned into murder but it certainly warrants further investigation. We should not accept it at face value too readily.

Jane, are you the Jane Peters (from Australia) ? I am absolutely shocked and horrified at the thought that my friend Benny died in such a horrible way... We celebrated his 60th birthday last April... How could this be ? Benny, we will miss you, your wonderful music, your sense of humour and your great heart... You never forgot to send us a birthday card on the day itself... Sometimes it was the only one we got...

no, I am jane from new york, formerly from London. I met ben on the internet originally and he called me whenever he was in the US and we usually met up when he was in the city. He always posted interesting emails to me. He was an exceptional person and I still feel sick when I think of how his life ended. Even worse that I don't know anyone who knew him so, thank you, Luc. Your email has given me some comfort.