RWatching passersby through a frame, the human-sized image of Bernadett Szabo, known as Betty, taps the window and fogs it with her breath, the word « Help » (“help”in French) appearing on the screen.
“Fifteen years ago, Betty was killed in a horrific manner, and the investigation has never been closed”said Amsterdam police spokesman Olav Brink.
Of Hungarian origin, Betty was brutally stabbed at the age of 19 in the workroom of her brothel, in the De Wallen district, also commonly known as the red light district, just a few months after giving birth to her child.
The police have already “received several tips thanks to the campaign”she confirmed
Despite a major police investigation, the case was never elucidated. However, during an examination, police found “promising clues in the investigation” and decided to reopen the case, Brink said.
Using 3D viewing technology, police hope Betty's likeness will encourage people who may have information about the murder to come forward with it. “There are still people who know what happened to Betty,” declared Mr. Brink, who hopes that, fifteen years later, “people feel freer to share information with the police.”
“Who was Betty?” »
In the week since the hologram and accompanying information about Betty were exposed, police have noted “that a lot of people talk about it”. In this neighborhood where many women gaze at passers-by through red-lit windows, groups of residents and visitors stop and start conversations about this particular exhibition, titled Who was Betty?. Theo, 80 years old, lives near Amsterdam, is “came specially” to see this project after learning of its existence in the press.
Soyoon Jun, 34, lives near the red light district and found “shocking to have neighbors who experience this type of horrible event”. For him, who works at a Christian charity, the hologram “made things real” car “it wasn’t just information given” and people can feel “powerlessness” the Betty.
The police have already “received several tips thanks to the campaign”confirmed Mr. Brink. However, she has not yet received the “golden pipe”with a reward of 30,000 euros ($31,600).
