Dutroux investigatorblasts critics

16 March 2004

BRUSSELS – The magistrate in charge of investigating the crimes of alleged child murderer Marc Dutroux on Tuesday hit out at his critics, including the father of one of the girls found dead at Dutroux’s home.

Speaking at Dutroux’s trial in the Belgian city of Arlon, investigating magistrate Jacques Langlois said he had carried out his job to the best of his ability but felt as though he had had to face a “firing squad of questions” from lawyers representing the families of Dutroux’s alleged victims.

Paul Marchal, who’s 17 year-old daughter An was allegedly buried alive at one of Dutroux’s properties, criticised the way Langlois handled the investigation.

He suggested the investigating magistrate should have organised a reconstruction of the day An and her friend 19 year old Eefje Lambreckx were kidnapped. He also said Langlois should have looked more closely into allegations that Dutroux was part of a paedophile network.

But Langlois insisted he had carried out his job properly.

“My honesty and sincerity cannot be called into question,” the investigating magistrate said testily.

“I don’t understand why people are still trying to say I am trying to impose my vision of this affair [on the court]. The investigating magistrate should not be on trail here,” he added.

Marchal also criticised Langlois for giving a detailed description to the Arlon courtroom of how police discovered the bodies of An and Eefje.

“Now the whole world, even people in Australia, now how my daughter died. It’s very hard,” he said.

Dutroux is accused of raping and killing four girls, including An and Eefje, and of raping two others who were found alive at one of his properties.

The trial continues.

Subject: Belgian news