Case overview
Marc Paul Alain Dutroux (French: [maʁk pɔl alɛ̃ dytʁu]; born 6 November 1956) is a Belgian convicted serial killer, serial rapist, and serial child molester. The lenient result of Dutroux's first prosecution, as well as shortcomings on the part of the police in investigating his murders, caused widespread discontent in Belgium with the country's criminal justice system, resulting in the complete reorganisation of Belgium's law enforcement agencies. [1]
Initially convicted for the abduction and rape of five young girls in 1989, Dutroux was released on parole after just three years' imprisonment. After Lejeune and Russo were kidnapped in June 1995, it took police 14 months to arrest Dutroux, although he had been a prime suspect from the start, having committed similar crimes before. Nihoul, "a Brussels businessman, pub-owner and familiar face at sex parties", was initially tried as an accomplice to the kidnappings but was acquitted owing to insufficient evidence; he was instead convicted of involvement in a gang that participated in human and drug trafficking, and was sentenced to five years in prison. [2]
