0`04 K
In Brussels imposing Law Courts a disturbing trial has focused the worlds attention. Its not just the brutality of the crimes that has sparked attention, though they are without doubt stomach-turning, but the overwhelming failure of the Belgian police forces to do anything about them. People here believe the kidnapper and paedophile now facing trial in this building was protected by the Belgian legal system.
At the entrance of the Law Courts a lonely memorial has formed to the the victims of Marc Dutroux. Its a defiant symbol of the bitter taste left in the mouths of society here, and an ongoing insult to the Belgian authorities.
0`42 K
The call for reforms has risen to a roar. But politicians are only slowly coming to admit their failure.
0`53 OT Natalie de d`Saerclaes, senate delegate
Sadly it appears citizens in Belgium still have no confidence into the law. Were working on reforms in both the legal and police services, but these things by definition go slowly they need time. Were trying to instil in the citizens here that things are getting better.
1`23 K
In Arlon, a small city in the Ardennes, the world has gathered to find out more. It is here that Dutroux has been sent to stand trial. Arlon has no international reputation to lose - the Brussels authorities insisted Dutroux was tried here, far away from the capital.
1`45 OT Passantin
The Dutroux case affects me massively, no question. Weve bought two dogs, one for the children, for their security. We dont feel safe and I fear then whole thing could easily happen again..."
2`03 K
450 Witnesses will give evidence at these law courts on the outskirts of Arlon. The reason for such a record number of witnesses is the constant obstruction faced by investigators since Dutroux was arrested 8 years ago. The legal documents for this case run to 400.000 pages, fuelling speculation that the police didnt want the truth to come out about Dutroux.
2`22 K
More than 1,300 journalists are in town reporting on the case. But few are able to see the case live most have been forced to watch Dutroux - protected by bullet proof glass - on TV.
But Dutrouxs trial holds wider, political dimensions.
2`47 OT Jose Masschelin, journalist, Dutroux - expert
The Belgian population doesnt have confidence in either the law or democracy in general. That is a fundamental problem that could have wide reaching consequences for the Belgians. For example there are the June 13 European elections here, and we could see a rise in support for the extreme right, because citizens have lost confidence in the state."
3`20 INSERT: Belgium 1996 (left above)
It was as long ago as 1996 that the case was first brought. Its eight years since the victims of Dutroux were buried. Even today these images are burned on the minds of people here.
3`50 K
But any hope for a swift trial for the alleged kidnapper and paedophile were quickly dashed.
4`08 K
All in all the corpses of four girls were discovered at Dutrouxs house enough evidence, you would think, to put him away in most other countries.
The legal process is Belgium is much more protracted than in may other places in Europe and a string of mistakes has led people here to talk of a conspiracy.
4`40 K
Dutroux himself has fuelled these rumours. In an illegally taped radio interview from his prison cell, for example, Dutroux speaks of an as yet undiscovered Paedophile network in Belgium, that, he claims, the authorities do not want known about.
5`10 K
In October 1996 the anger felt by people here spilled over into a mass demonstration. Parents of missing children led a march to Brussels to protest and call for an overhaul of the legal system. 300,000 people marched: politicians were notable by their absence.
5`34 K
Sabine Dardenne is one of the lucky ones. At the end of May 1996 she was kidnapped by Dutroux, alongside a girl called Laetitia Delhez. The girls were locked in a cellar and abused for several weeks.
5`53 K
In the middle of August 1996 both were released.
6`08 K
Dardenne naturally a key witness in the trial wants to face her tormentor in court in an attempt to show he cant destroy her life.
6`20 OT Jose Masschelin, journalist
What I couldnt understand and what shocked me the most was the stupidity and the ignorance of the police and legal system. There was no communication between them and that, sadly, has cost the lives of young children.
6`37 OT Natalie de d`Saerclaes more
We now have an organization called Child Focus, whose job it is to investigate disappeared children. It is an important institution, which was created after the Dutroux case. The other proposed reforms still need time and money."
6`55 K
Child focus is the only - private institution established after the scandal. The fate of disappeared and sexually abused children is investigated by the team of investigators here. All too often the case notes are closed forever, unsolved.
7`14 K
A hotline has been set up as a liaison point for parents who have lost children. Child Focus employees are also in constant touch with the authorities in attempts to prevent child abuse from happening in the first place. Workers here tell us the increased numbers of refugees here make the work more difficult.
7`29 OT Isabelle Maneffe, Child focus
In the past five years we have looked at upwards of 10,000 cases of disappeared children. In 80 per cent of cases, the children were found again. The overwhelming problem is refugee children, who came to Europe without documents and want to avoid the police and social services... Nobody feels responsible and theyre never seen again "
8`00 K
Around 6000 forensic samples from victims are still being examined, that have yet to lead to arrests.
But the overwhelming feeling here is it is not just sloppiness, but something more sinister that protects Dutroux and, no doubt, others like him.
Inserts:
Reporter: Alexander Steinbach
Camera:Alexander Muliar
Editor:Andrea hand lot
In Brussels imposing Law Courts a disturbing trial has focused the worlds attention. Its not just the brutality of the crimes that has sparked attention, though they are without doubt stomach-turning, but the overwhelming failure of the Belgian police forces to do anything about them. People here believe the kidnapper and paedophile now facing trial in this building was protected by the Belgian legal system.
At the entrance of the Law Courts a lonely memorial has formed to the the victims of Marc Dutroux. Its a defiant symbol of the bitter taste left in the mouths of society here, and an ongoing insult to the Belgian authorities.
0`42 K
The call for reforms has risen to a roar. But politicians are only slowly coming to admit their failure.
0`53 OT Natalie de d`Saerclaes, senate delegate
Sadly it appears citizens in Belgium still have no confidence into the law. Were working on reforms in both the legal and police services, but these things by definition go slowly they need time. Were trying to instil in the citizens here that things are getting better.
1`23 K
In Arlon, a small city in the Ardennes, the world has gathered to find out more. It is here that Dutroux has been sent to stand trial. Arlon has no international reputation to lose - the Brussels authorities insisted Dutroux was tried here, far away from the capital.
1`45 OT Passantin
The Dutroux case affects me massively, no question. Weve bought two dogs, one for the children, for their security. We dont feel safe and I fear then whole thing could easily happen again..."
2`03 K
450 Witnesses will give evidence at these law courts on the outskirts of Arlon. The reason for such a record number of witnesses is the constant obstruction faced by investigators since Dutroux was arrested 8 years ago. The legal documents for this case run to 400.000 pages, fuelling speculation that the police didnt want the truth to come out about Dutroux.
2`22 K
More than 1,300 journalists are in town reporting on the case. But few are able to see the case live most have been forced to watch Dutroux - protected by bullet proof glass - on TV.
But Dutrouxs trial holds wider, political dimensions.
2`47 OT Jose Masschelin, journalist, Dutroux - expert
The Belgian population doesnt have confidence in either the law or democracy in general. That is a fundamental problem that could have wide reaching consequences for the Belgians. For example there are the June 13 European elections here, and we could see a rise in support for the extreme right, because citizens have lost confidence in the state."
3`20 INSERT: Belgium 1996 (left above)
It was as long ago as 1996 that the case was first brought. Its eight years since the victims of Dutroux were buried. Even today these images are burned on the minds of people here.
3`50 K
But any hope for a swift trial for the alleged kidnapper and paedophile were quickly dashed.
4`08 K
All in all the corpses of four girls were discovered at Dutrouxs house enough evidence, you would think, to put him away in most other countries.
The legal process is Belgium is much more protracted than in may other places in Europe and a string of mistakes has led people here to talk of a conspiracy.
4`40 K
Dutroux himself has fuelled these rumours. In an illegally taped radio interview from his prison cell, for example, Dutroux speaks of an as yet undiscovered Paedophile network in Belgium, that, he claims, the authorities do not want known about.
5`10 K
In October 1996 the anger felt by people here spilled over into a mass demonstration. Parents of missing children led a march to Brussels to protest and call for an overhaul of the legal system. 300,000 people marched: politicians were notable by their absence.
5`34 K
Sabine Dardenne is one of the lucky ones. At the end of May 1996 she was kidnapped by Dutroux, alongside a girl called Laetitia Delhez. The girls were locked in a cellar and abused for several weeks.
5`53 K
In the middle of August 1996 both were released.
6`08 K
Dardenne naturally a key witness in the trial wants to face her tormentor in court in an attempt to show he cant destroy her life.
6`20 OT Jose Masschelin, journalist
What I couldnt understand and what shocked me the most was the stupidity and the ignorance of the police and legal system. There was no communication between them and that, sadly, has cost the lives of young children.
6`37 OT Natalie de d`Saerclaes more
We now have an organization called Child Focus, whose job it is to investigate disappeared children. It is an important institution, which was created after the Dutroux case. The other proposed reforms still need time and money."
6`55 K
Child focus is the only - private institution established after the scandal. The fate of disappeared and sexually abused children is investigated by the team of investigators here. All too often the case notes are closed forever, unsolved.
7`14 K
A hotline has been set up as a liaison point for parents who have lost children. Child Focus employees are also in constant touch with the authorities in attempts to prevent child abuse from happening in the first place. Workers here tell us the increased numbers of refugees here make the work more difficult.
7`29 OT Isabelle Maneffe, Child focus
In the past five years we have looked at upwards of 10,000 cases of disappeared children. In 80 per cent of cases, the children were found again. The overwhelming problem is refugee children, who came to Europe without documents and want to avoid the police and social services... Nobody feels responsible and theyre never seen again "
8`00 K
Around 6000 forensic samples from victims are still being examined, that have yet to lead to arrests.
But the overwhelming feeling here is it is not just sloppiness, but something more sinister that protects Dutroux and, no doubt, others like him.
Inserts:
Reporter: Alexander Steinbach
Camera:Alexander Muliar
Editor:Andrea hand lot