Julie Van Espen, a 23-year-old student, was tragically murdered by Steve Bakelmans in May 2019 in Antwerp, Belgium.

Prior to this crime, Bakelmans had received a four-year prison sentence for rape in 2017, but he was allowed to remain free during the appeal process.

At the time of Van Espen's murder, Bakelmans was appealing his 2017 conviction, which sparked public outrage and led to a protest of 15,000 people shortly after the incident.

The Van Espen family claims that deficiencies in communication, record-keeping, and staffing within the justice system contributed significantly to Julie's death.

Stijn Verbist, the family's lawyer, argues that a series of judicial errors and negligence allowed Bakelmans to remain free despite his troubling criminal history.

In response, the Belgian state denies any wrongdoing, asserting that there is no causal link between their actions and the murder of Van Espen.

The upcoming court case will focus on how the justice system managed Bakelmans's case, as the Van Espen family seeks accountability from the state.

The Brussels court is set to examine the lawsuit filed by Julie Van Espen's family against the Belgian state on November 21, 2024.

Following his conviction, Bakelmans was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder and rape of Julie Van Espen on December 22, 2021.

The family maintains that if the justice system had functioned properly, Bakelmans would not have been free to commit such a heinous crime.