A Belgian court today called for the trial by jury of Mr Marc Dutroux more than six years after his arrest on child sex and murder charges, judicial officials said.
The notorious case, which sparked international outrage and mass demonstrations against the Belgian justice system, has been held up by investigations and legal wrangling since Mr Dutroux was arrested in 1996.
But an intermediary court in Neufchateau, southeast Belgium, ruled there was sufficient evidence to send Dutroux to court in Arlon for a trial that could begin in late 2003 or early 2004, court sources said.
Mr Dutroux is accused of kidnapping and murdering two young girls and two teenagers, whose bodies were found at his properties in 1996. He also stands accused of raping the four girls, as well as two others who were found alive on one of his properties.
The Neufchateau court's decision is the penultimate step before a full trial: another tribunal in the eastern city of Liege will take the final decision, in the next few months, on sending some or all of the 12 co-accused before a jury.
AFP