Great Crimes and Trials: The Monster of Belgium

SYNOPSIS

Marc Dutroux (born 6 November 1956 in Brussels) is one of the most disturbed human beings ever born. He is a Belgian criminal, convicted of having, in 1995 and 1996, kidnapped, tortured and sexually abused six girls, ranging in age from 8 to 19, four of whom died as a result. He was also convicted of having killed a suspected former accomplice, Bernard Weinstein. Arrested in 1996 and has been in prison since then. His widely publicized trial took place in 2004. A number of shortcomings in the Dutroux investigation caused widespread discontent in Belgium with the country's criminal justice system, and the ensuing scandal was one of the reasons for the reorganization of Belgium's law enforcement agencies. The Belgium government's failure to capture him nearly caused a revolution. Did the government prevent his capture? Was there a cover up?