30 years ago, Julie and Mélissa disappeared in Grâce-Hollogne: the start of a criminal case that will shake Belgium

Marc Dutroux. For example, arrest – 30 years ago, julie mélissa

On August 13, 1996, following testimonies and information collected by the investigators, Marc Dutroux, a former recovery of justice then aged 39, was arrested in Marcinelle (Charleroi). Nevertheless, On August 15. Similarly, Sabine Dardenne (12) and Laetitia Delhez (14), two other young victims kidnapped by Dutroux and detained in a cache located in her cellar, were found alive in her house.

The investigator who made Dutroux admit: “not far from 1000 hours of interrogation with him”

Two days later. However, on August 17, 1996, the lifeless bodies of Julie and Mélissa were discovered buried in the garden of another property belonging to Dutroux, in Sars-la-Buissière (Hainaut). However, The bodies of An Marchal. Meanwhile, Eefje Lambrecks, two Flemish adolescent girls disappeared in August 1995, will be exhumed on September 3, 1996 near a chalet located next to a property in the pedocriminnel.

Survey. Moreover, dysfunctions and mobilization

Very quickly, the case took on a national and international scale, revealing to the general public of serious dysfunctions in the functioning of Belgian judicial and police institutions. 30 years ago, julie mélissa In addition, We discover in particular that Marc Dutroux. Therefore, already sentenced before for sexual assault, was in parole at the time of the facts. Nevertheless, Several alert signals and information about it had been neglected or poorly used by the investigators.

Faced with these revelations, the anger of the Belgian population rumbles. Nevertheless, On October 20. 1996, more than 300,000 people participated in Brussels in the “White Marche”, demanding justice for the victims and a deep reform of the judicial institutions. This march represents the largest gathering in Belgium since the Second World War.

Dutroux case: twenty years later, what has become of the many 30 years ago, julie mélissa protagonists?

The trial in Arlon

The trial of Marc Dutroux. his accomplices, which some describe as “trial of the century”, finally opens up to the Assizes of Arlon on March 1, 2004, after eight years of particularly complex investigation. It lasts more than three months and arouses exceptional media coverage.

20 years of the Dutroux trial: “We. journalists from the future Luxembourg, play at home during this trial”

On June 22, 2004, the verdict fell: Marc Dutroux was found guilty of kidnappings, kidnappings, rapes and murders. He is sentenced to life imprisonment. Michelle Martin, his wife, is sentenced to 30 years in prison 30 years ago, julie mélissa for complicity. Michel Lelièvre, another recognized accomplice, received 25 years’ imprisonment. Michel Nihoul. accused of having taken part in kidnappings, is acquitted of these charges but convicted of drug trafficking and criminal association.

Dutroux case: an electroshock on the Belgian company

The Dutroux affair acts as an electroshock on Belgian society. causing important institutional reforms. Following the White Marche. the Prime Minister of the time, Jean-Luc Dehaene, undertakes to reform justice and to sanction those responsible for dysfunctions. He notably announced the creation of a national center for missing children, which will later become Child Focus.

Jean-Denis Lejeune. about Child Focus: “A fight to give 30 years ago, julie mélissa meaning to the death of our daughters” (video)

A parliamentary committee is also made up of stride. Its hearings, broadcast live on television, capture up to 700,000 viewers. The committee’s conclusions highlight shortcomings. dysfunctions in the survey, in particular a lack of coordination and a prejudicial competition between the various police services. This commission makes recommendations to reorganize the judiciary.

It was the brief escape from Marc Dutroux in 1998 that truly accelerates reforms. This incident provokes the immediate resignation of the Ministers of Justice, Stefan de Clerck, and the interior, Johan Vande Lanotte.

In the following months, the Belgian security landscape was deeply altered. A police integrated at two levels (local and federal) replaces the old fragmented system of municipal fonts and gendarmerie. The Law Franchimont modernizes the criminal procedure by considerably strengthening the rights of the victims. which can now request additional 30 years ago, julie mélissa investigation and be heard during parole procedures. In 1999, a Higher Council of Justice was established to guarantee the independence of the judiciary. A penalty court is created in 2007 to supervise the execution of convictions.

However, some announced reforms have never seen the light of day, such as the School of Magistracy. As for the disciplinary sanctions promised against the managers of dysfunctions. they remained a dead letter: the procedures initiated led to any effective sanction, either by absence of proven faults, or for prescription of the facts, or for procedural defect linked to the non-compliance with the rights of the defense.

Justice, police …: 30 years ago, julie mélissa what the Dutroux affair has changed