Merksem, Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The state is responsible for the horrific rape and murder of Julie Van Espen in 2019 as pronounced by a Belgian court based on failures in the country’s justice system, grounds for its verdict. The family of Julie believes that the tragic death of the daughter could have been avoided if the justice system performed well.
A young student from Schilde, Julie, was shot dead by repeat offender Steve Bakelmans in Merksem. Her family claims that delays and mistakes over earlier charges against Bakelmans allowed him to remain at liberty. That is the argument supported by the Brussels Court of First Instance, identifying critical failures, including an Antwerp Court of Appeal delay and a lack of staff in the judicial system.
System Under Fire
The court elaborated that Bakelmans’ former case had been adjourned due to a backlog in the Court of Appeal, Antwerp. He was free to commit the crime. According to the verdict, the government could not provide sufficient resources leaving the courts short-staffed and swamped.
The judgment emphasized that “these failures robbed Julie’s family of the chances to prevent her tragic death.”
This case points out the overall issues in Belgium’s judiciary, which has been viewed as slow and underfunded, putting public safety at risk.
A Family’s Fight
Julie’s family fight has been running for years for the systems that made them accountable. They claimed that she would not have been murdered if Bakelmans had been convicted sooner. The court’s decision validates their fight, though it can’t undo the loss.
“This decision won’t bring Julie back, but it shows that changes are needed to protect others” a family spokesperson added.
Call for Urgent Reform
This has brought serious calls for reform. These advocacy groups and legal experts advise that the case of Julie is only a manifestation of the breakdown of justice in Belgium. Chronic understaffing and under-financing of the courts have slowed down its operation and weakened safety standards.
This leaves the government pressed to reform these issues so that tragedy can never happen again. Julie’s story has come out as a powerful symbol of why change is badly needed.
While the court’s decision brings about some accountability, it also is marked as a heavy cost of systemic failure.
A History of Injustice
One such repeated case in which the Belgian judicial system was exposed to harsh criticism is that of the tragic death of Julie Van Espen. One of the most dangerous criminals in the country, Marc Dutroux, shook the nation in the 1990s by abducting, raping, and murdering a few young girls. It was through his case that severe faults in both the judicial and law enforcement systems of Belgium had exposed how he evaded being caught and continued with those awful crimes for such a long time.
In 2004, Dutroux was convicted for the abduction and rape of six girls who were between eight to nineteen years old and for murdering two of the victims. The case brought about a sense of shock throughout Belgium, as public outrage and demands for reforms increased. It uncovered police investigation flaws but worse shortcomings within the court system, including mishandling of evidence and cases being delayed or ignored.
