The Antwerp Court of Appeal was severely reprimanded on Thursday in a judgment by the Brussels court of first instance. That court ruled that the Belgian State is partly liable for the rape and murder of student Julie Van Espen (23) by sex offender Steve Bakelmans. That is partly the fault of the Court of Appeal, which allowed an earlier trial against Bakelmans to drag on for 22 months. As a result, Bakelmans remained free.
According to the Brussels court, “this is not in line with what one may expect from a normally careful and far-sighted judicial authority.”
Excuses
In an initial response, the Antwerp Court of Appeal now admits its mistake. In a remarkable text, the court acknowledges that she made mistakes. “The court would like to expressly confirm that the previous case of the perpetrator of the murder of Julie Van Espen should have been handled more carefully and quickly by the court, even though there was a shortage of magistrates due to limited completion of the frameworks,” said it sounds.
The court recognizes the suffering of Julie Van Espen’s parents and also seems to want to apologize. “We would like to emphasize to the parents, family and friends of Julie Van Espen that the handling of the case at the court should have been different. While a commitment to justice is always one of protecting people, we have made mistakes here without which they might have been spared this immense suffering.”
“Improvements”
In addition, the court says that it has now taken measures to ensure that this cannot happen again. “The violent death of Julie Van Espen, partly at the instigation of her parents, has led to numerous improvements in the approach to sexual violence files.”
The court points out that such files are now processed more quickly. When the processing time recently threatened to increase again, a second chamber of the court was charged with these cases. “The memory of Julie must provide lasting inspiration to continue on this path.”
The full text:
“The Antwerp Court of Appeal (hereinafter ‘the Court’) takes note of the ruling of the Brussels Court of First Instance in the case of the Van Espen family against the Belgian State.
The court would like to expressly confirm that the earlier case of the perpetrator of the murder of Julie Van Espen should have been handled more carefully and quickly by the court, even though there was a shortage of magistrates due to limited filling of the frameworks.
With regard to the parents, family and friends of Julie Van Espen, we would like to emphasize that the handling of the case at the court should have been different. While a commitment to justice is always one of protecting people, we have made mistakes here ourselves, without which they might have been spared this immense suffering. We can only indicate that it is evident that measures have been taken to adjust and improve working methods and to follow up on these types of matters in a conclusive manner.
It can also be noted that the violent death of Julie Van Espen, partly at the instigation of her parents, has led to numerous improvements in the approach to sexual violence files, including at the court. For example, reference can be made to the compilation of sexual violence files, which contain all possible relevant information more than before, and to the better follow-up and shorter treatment times in these files. When these treatment times recently threatened to run out due to a higher influx, a second chamber of the court was charged with these cases.
Unfortunately, we are clearly not there yet, the road to necessary reforms within the justice system is still long, but the memory of Julie should provide lasting inspiration to continue to work on this road. The court will assume its responsibility in this, with due modesty, but also with conviction.
This message is currently the court’s entire public communication.”
