The family of a young woman who was raped and murdered in 2019 has filed a civil case against the Belgian State over a "cluster" of legal errors they believe could have led to her death. The Belgian State denied any fault during the first hearing on Thursday.
Julie Van Espen, a 23-year-old student, was raped and murdered in 2019 in Antwerp by Steve Bakelmans. Bakelmans had been convicted of rape and theft in 2017 but was still out on bail in 2019 awaiting his appeal hearing. In 2021, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for the Van Espen case.
However, Van Espen's family believes Julie's death could have been prevented had the Belgian legal system properly enforced the previous conviction. The time frame for Bakelmans' appeal hearing was "abnormally long" according to a report by the High Council of Justice published in December 2019.
However, the defending lawyer argued that the staff shortages which led to the delay of the appeal hearing do not constitute a fault of the State, the Belga News Agency reported.
He added that the appeal was postponed as a result of unforeseen circumstances: "The case was ready to be heard but three magistrates were suddenly absent. One because he had to deal with an assize case, and two because they fell ill. Without this unforeseen problem, the Bakelmans case would have been dealt with."
The family announced in 2023 its plan to sue the Belgian State. The civil case against the State was heard on Thursday morning in a chamber with three judges at the Dutch-speaking court of first instance in Brussels.
The court will rule on the case on 19 December.
