Belgian state held liable for rape and murder of Julie Van Espen
A Brussels court has ruled that the Belgian state is liable for the rape and murder of Julie Van Espen. The court found that failures in handling a previous case against her killer denied the family a chance to prevent her death.
Van Espen, 23, was raped and murdered by Steve Baekelmans on 4 May 2019. Baekelmans, who had a history of criminal offences including violence and sexual crimes, had been sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for rape in 2017.
However, he was not immediately imprisoned, and it took 23 months for his appeal to be processed. That delay was in part due to judicial staffing shortages caused by austerity measures.
The Brussels court ruled that while there was no direct evidence that immediate detention would have prevented Van Espen’s murder, the judicial and executive failures in handling Baekelmans’ case deprived the family of a crucial opportunity to protect her.
The court said that errors in the judicial process, including the delay in handling Baekelmans’ case, resulted in a loss of 50 per cent of the chance to prevent the crimes against Van Espen.
As a result, the Belgian state was held responsible for the family’s loss. The court ordered the state to pay a symbolic 1 euro in preliminary damages. For a more substantial compensation, the family will need to initiate new legal proceedings.
The Belgian state has the option to appeal the court’s decision. However, outgoing Justice minister Paul Van Tichelt said it would not: “There has been untold and irreparable suffering caused to Julie Van Espen and her family, and in this, the justice system bears a responsibility.”
#FlandersNewsService | The remembrance card after the funeral ceremony for Julie Van Espen © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS