Criminal prosecutors in Antwerp will reconstruct the crime scene of Julie Van Espen's murder in the presence of suspect Steve B. on Tuesday, as the investigation into the murder of the 23-year-old Flemish student continues.
The suspect, who has already confessed to murdering Van Espen after attempting to assault her, will provide facts and information to police at the location of the crime.
For the reenactment, a security perimeter will be established in parts of the Vaartkaai and of Mayor Gabriël Theunis bridge, the established crime scene, the prosecutor's office announced Monday.
Van Espen's body was recovered from the Albert canal, near Antwerp, on May 6. She had gone missing two days prior, after she left her home in the nearby town of Schilde by bike to meet with friends, but never arrived.
Van Espen's murder caused a wave of indignation in Belgium, prompting calls for more serious processing of sexual crimes after news emerged that Steve B. had murdered Van Espen during his release pending an appeal, even though he had been twice convicted for sexual assault.
At the start of June, Belgium’s High Council of Justice said it was launching an investigation into the potential mishandling of Steve B.'s criminal file.
Gabriela Galindo
The Brussels Times
