New DNA evidence prompts Spain to reopen Dutch man’s rape convictions

The Spanish authorities are reopening the case against Romano van der Dussen, who has been in a Spanish prison for some 12 years after being convicted on three charges of rape. DNA traces found on one of the victims does not match Van der Dussen, but an man currently imprisoned in England for a similar offense. Van der Dussen's Dutch lawyer confirmed this to NOS. The lawyer tracked the British man down in his prison cell and got a written statement from him in which he admits to part of the offenses committed in Spain. The defense will now file a motion for revision and call for Van der Dussen's immediate release pending the continuation of the case. The other evidence against Van der Dussen is also far from concrete. The fingerprints found do not match his, and witness statements were contradictory.