The family of Julie Van Espen are suing the Belgian state for its failure to keep convicted rapist Steve Bakelmans off the street, which they say led directly to the rape and murder of the Antwerp student in 2019
Dossier
Hearing begins in wrongful death case filed by family of Julie Van Espen
Lisa Bradshaw
Published:
In May of 2019, 23-year-old student Julie Van Espen was raped and murdered while cycling along the Albert canal in Antwerp. Her body was found in the canal two days after her disappearance.
Steve Bakelmans, then 39, was arrested and convicted of the crime, which opened up a Pandora’s box of accusations against the justice system for its historical backlog and budget cuts that allowed Bakelmans to remain at large.
Last year Julie Van Espen’s family filed a wrongful death claim against the Belgian state, citing acute negligence in the system, which they say had a direct influence on their daughter’s violent death.
Would my sister be alive if the justice system had functioned properly? For me, this is an unequivocal ‘yes’
Andreas Van Espen
“Words mean nothing in the face of what we have been through,” said Julie’s brother Andreas during the hearing in Brussels yesterday. “There is only one question that matters to me today: Would my sister be alive if the justice system had functioned properly? For me, this is an unequivocal ‘yes’.”
At the time of Julie’s disappearance, Bakelmans was well known to police for multiple crimes, including rape, theft, drug possession and traffic violations. He spent nearly five years between 2004 and 2008 in detention for rape, once disappearing for seven months after receiving permission for a temporary leave from prison.
In 2016, Bakelmans was again arrested for the rape of his ex-partner. Following 2.5 months in detention, he was released under conditions. According to the court, he had to be released because he did not meet the criteria for pre-trial detention. The previous seven-month absence from prison, however, classified him as a flight risk – a criteria for pre-trial detention.
In June of 2017, Bakelmans was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison. He appealed the sentence and remained free for nearly a year until his appeal process began.
‘Systemic failure’
The prosecutor was told to expect a decision within six months, but in November 2018, the courts postponed the decision until June 2019 – a month after Julie’s murder. “If we do not sanction the justice system for this, we are telling all women to take care of their own safety because our government cannot,” said Andreas.
Bakelmans is now in prison, serving a life sentence for Julie’s rape and murder. According to the family – which is asking for a symbolic €1 compensation – the numerous errors point to “a systemic failure of justice”, largely based on a shortage of resources and staff.
“It is just insane that at least 77 case files – including serious sexual assault and weapons offences – just laid around in a cabinet,” said the family’s lawyers in a statement. A decision on the case is expected on 19 December.