BELGIUM: Eight years after the deaths of four kidnapped girls, the trial of Marc Dutroux has begun in the southern Belgian town of Arlon. Dutroux spoke only a few words yesterday, stating his name, giving his address as Arlon jail and describing himself as unemployed, writes Denis Staunton Brussels
Amid massive security, the 47- year-old convicted child rapist and unemployed electrician, and three other defendants, were brought to the heavily fortified court building 2½ hours before proceedings began. Most of the day was taken up with selecting a jury out of 180 candidates, almost a third of whom asked to be excused for medical or professional reasons.
As the jury candidates were being questioned, Dutroux fell asleep behind the bullet-proof glass surrounding the dock and was called to order by the judge. Dutroux is accused of kidnapping and sexually abusing six girls, four of whom died. He is charged with the murder of two of the girls and of a former associate, Bernard Weinstein, and faces lesser charges of leading a criminal organisation and breaching drugs laws.
The other defendants, who include his former wife, are accused of helping Dutroux in various ways.
The parents of one of his youngest victims, eight-year old Melissa Russo, said yesterday that they had no confidence in the trial, which they described as "a masquerade". Laetitia Delhez, who was 14 when she was rescued from Dutroux's cellar in 1996, is expected to testify next month.
Dutroux, who is not expected to address the court until tomorrow, claims he was acting as part of a larger child prostitution network. A Belgian television channel has broadcast details of a letter allegedly written by Dutroux, in which he claims to have been manipulated by more powerful forces.
"Just because I have done a few foolish things does not mean I should pay for a mafia system in which I was not the engine," the letter said.
Prosecutors have dismissed the suggestion that Dutroux was part of a bigger network, claiming that they have investigated every such claim. Two out of three Belgians believe, however, that Dutroux is being protected by powerful people and Freddy Deville, a representative of the citizens' organisation Observatoire Citoyen yesterday expressed scepticism about the trial.
"They are organising a spectacle now, they'll probably put Dutroux behind bars for life and then draw a line under the whole chapter. What will fall by the wayside is the truth," he said.