Two individuals were on trial on Tuesday for rape, sexual abuse, and the production of sexual violence images involving minors at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) nursery between 2020 and 2025.
After opening, the Brussels Criminal Court announced the decision to hold the trial publicly, after one of the defendants requested that the proceedings be held behind closed doors, citing concerns over the trial’s public attention.
The court rejected this request, stating that media coverage would persist regardless, and there was no justification for barring public access to the hearing.
The trial began at around 10:00 with the questioning of the former nursery staffer of the French-speaking ULB Solbosch campus creche.
She denies the accusations of rape, sexual abuse of three children, and producing photographs of sexual violence involving minors.
While she acknowledges possessing such images found on her phone, she disputes the timing of the alleged offences.
The second defendant, the former staffer's ex-partner, did not request the trial be held in private.
He similarly denies charges of rape, sexual abuse, and the production, dissemination, possession, and acquisition of photographs depicting sexual violence against minors.
The public prosecutor highlighted multiple alleged periods of criminal activity spanning several months each, occurring between June 2020 and February 2025.
"The affected families have been informed, and psychological and legal support is being provided to them," the ULB stated in a communiqué when the story first broke in February 2025.
They added that they were "deeply dismayed" by the case and were fully collaborating with the Prosecutor's Office.
