Suspect denies 2002 rape of 16-year-old girl in Lisserbroek

A 64-year-old man from the Haarlemmermeer municipality is currently on trial for a violent rape that took place in Lisserbroek in 2002. The victim, who was 16 at the time, was cycling along the IJweg when she was grabbed, threatened, and sexually assaulted by an unknown attacker. The perpetrator left the scene, leaving the victim's belongings behind, and the case remained cold for over two decades. The suspect was only recently identified after investigators used DNA kinship analysis, matching samples found on the victim's clothing and the attacker's cap to the suspect's brother in a legal database.

The accused man, who was arrested this past June, maintains his innocence and did not appear at the initial court session in Alkmaar. The victim, however, attended the proceedings and expressed relief at finally knowing the identity of her attacker. A follow-up pro-forma hearing has been scheduled for December 7 at the court in Haarlem to continue the legal process.