Dutch authorities have high hopes for new DNA techniques in solving old sex crimes
The Dutch police and Public Prosecution Service (OM) are very hopeful that developments in DNA techniques will lead to breakthroughs in more old, unsolved sex crime cases. Today, a man from Altena is standing trial for raping a girl in 1990. Last week, a 64-year-old man was arrested in Lisserbroek for a rape from 2002, RTL Nieuws reports.
Both suspects were linked to the crimes using DNA kinship analysis. The Altena man is suspected of raping a 14-year-old girl in Bodegraven in 1990. She was home sick from school and home alone. The then 23-year-old man allegedly entered the home under a false pretext and raped the child in her bedroom.
In this case, authorities recently found a match with DNA from a database in England, stemming from a case in 2003. Additional investigation led to the man’s arrest last year. His trial starts today.
Investigators are increasingly reinvestigating such old cases, investigator Lex Meulenbroek of the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) told the broadcaster. “10, 20, or 30 years ago, our investigative techniques were less advanced. If we analyze the same trace evidence now, we get a better DNA profile.”
Today, you only need a tiny bit of DNA to make a profile. For example, a trace of skin or sperm cells found in a pair of briefs or trousers, Meulenbroek said. "We can now identify someone who has remained under the radar for years. It is a reassurance for victims of sexual offenses that the perpetrators can no longer hide. Because DNA does not lie and can still lead us to a suspect 30 years later."
The scope of DNA research has also expanded. The Netherlands has been part of the Plüm Convention since 2008, which means that in specific cases, investigators can also search for DNA matches in foreign databases. 28 countries are signatories to the convention.
The National Police and OM are also optimistic. “It is likely that new DNA techniques will increasingly lead to new leads. This could mean that it leads to a perpetrator or indirectly leads to a new trail that advances the investigation,” an OM spokesperson said.
