Editing Marc Dutroux (section)

=== Investigation ===
* '''21 September 1996''' – Jean-Marc Connerotte, the investigating judge in the Dutroux case, marries his girlfriend of 10 years. Together with their son they visit a benefit meeting for the parents of the disappeared children. At the benefit the family has spaghetti, and Connerotte sits with Michel Bourlet, the attorney at Neufchâteau. Connerotte stays for only an hour and does not speak to Sabine Dardenne. The magistrates receive a fountain pen worth €27 each and their wives a bouquet of flowers.
* {{anchor|AnchorSpaghetti}}'''15 October 1996''' – The so-called "spaghetti judgement" ({{langx|fr|arrêt spaghetti|italics=yes}}): the Court of Cassation removes the investigating judge Jean-Marc Connerotte for attending the benefit and receiving two gifts there (the plate of spaghetti and a fountain pen).
* '''20 October 1996''' – The White March. Around 300,000 people demonstrate in Brussels to protest against the delays and errors in the Dutroux investigation.
* '''24 October 1996''' – Concerned that the Dutroux investigation will be mishandled, the Belgian parliament sets up an independent committee to investigate the Dutroux case and the possible procedural errors committed by the Belgian police and judicial authorities. Marc Verwilghen acts as the chairman.
* '''15 March 1997''' – The Dutroux Commission delivers scathing criticism at the police and the Ministry of Justice for miscarrying their investigation into the missing girls.
* '''6 May 1997''' – The Dutroux Commission returns to work and investigates whether Dutroux was protected by people in positions of power.
* '''15 February 1998''' – The committee's second report states that the Dutroux gang did not enjoy protection, but benefited from corruption, carelessness, and a lack of professionalism.
* '''23 April 1998''' – Dutroux escapes from the Neufchâteau courthouse, but is picked up again four hours later in Herbeumont Saint-Médard by ranger Stéphane Michaux. Interior Minister Johan Vande Lanotte and Minister of Justice Stefaan De Clerck offer their resignation on the same day and are succeeded by Louis Tobback and Tony Van Parys, respectively. The head of the government service, Willy Deridder, also resigns.
* '''14 July 1999''' – Hubert Massa, Advocate General in charge of the Dutroux case, commits suicide.
* '''15 December 1999''' – Michel Nihoul is released conditionally due to a lack of evidence.
* '''15 March 2002''' – Investigative Judge Jacques Langlois completes the investigation into the Dutroux case.
* '''17 January 2003''' – The Council Chamber in Neufchâteau decides to bring Dutroux, Martin and Lelièvre before the Court of Assizes. Nihoul is excluded from prosecution. Public prosecutor Bourlet and some civil parties file an appeal.
* '''30 April 2003''' – The Liège Chamber of Indictment (AI) follows Attorney Bourlet and also refers Nihoul to the Court of Assizes.<ref>[http://www.standaard.be/artikel/detail.aspx?artikelid=DST30042003_005 Proces-Dutroux of Dutroux-Nihoul? Gerecht hakt knopen door na bijna zeven jaar], www.standaard.be, 30 April 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.standaard.be/artikel/detail.aspx?artikelid=DMF30042003_002 Nihoul naar assisen], www.standaard.be, 1 mei 2003</ref>
* '''8 December 2003''' – Attorney Bourlet files the 27-page indictment.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071028110022/http://www.observatoirecitoyen.be/IMG/pdf/Acte_d_accusation.pdf Acte d'accusation], Luiks Hof van Beroep, 8 December 2003</ref>