Belgian justice has apologized to the family of Julie Van Espen, after the conviction in December of the Belgian state for the rape and murder of this young woman in 2019.
Justice apologized to the family of Julie Van Espen, after the conviction in December of the Belgian state for the rape and murder of this young woman in 2019, by a repeat offender while awaiting his appeal trial. .
The Minister of Justice of the resigned government, Paul Van Tigchelt indicated on the night of Sunday to Monday that an apology had been presented to the victim’s family.
It is about “an apology for the errors made by the justice system and the responsibility that the justice system therefore bears for Julie’s death”as well as “an apology for the immense and irreparable suffering caused to the family”in the words of the minister.
“Justice recognizes the judgment and therefore the errors. This is why the resigning Minister of Justice decided not to appeal”added by M. Van Tigchelt. “In consultation with Julie’s parents, the same representatives of Justice, the judiciary and the executive branch would like to apologize to the entire population and in particular to Julie’s family, to her boyfriend, to her friends and all those who knew her”continued the resigning Minister of Justice.
The Brussels Court of First Instance ruled last December that errors had been made by the Antwerp Court of Appeal, which was handling the case of the perpetrator, Steve Baekelmans. These errors, which dragged out the latter’s appeal trial, are partly attributable to the executive power, which did not ensure that the Antwerp Court of Appeal had sufficient staff, according to the judge.
Julie Van Espen was raped and murdered on May 4, 2019 by Steve Baekelmans, a man who had already come into contact with the law on several occasions, notably for violent and sexual acts. On June 30, 2017, he was again sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for rape by the Antwerp Criminal Court, but the court did not order his immediate arrest at that time, and it was necessary to wait 23 months before he was also convicted on appeal. It was not until June 26, 2019, after Steve Baekelmans murdered Julie Van Espen and was arrested for these facts, that this arrest took place.
justice état belge julie van espen paul van tigchelt
