Trial of the rapist of the Sambre: the moment when the investigation changed

Lionel Gougelot 11:20 a.m., June 15, 2022

Assizes of Douai.

It is 7:36 a.m. and one of the victims of the Sambre rapist is the first to testify.

“He screwed up my life,” she says.

Dino Scala, 61, is appearing for 17 rapes, 12 attempted rapes and 27 assaults or attempted sexual assaults, committed against 56 victims between 1988 and 2018. Their depositions will continue until next week.

During the hearing, the investigators also spoke.

The head of the investigation group at the Lille PJ had ironically nicknamed him "Average gentleman".

Average height, average build.

That was actually the description of the victims.

"But at the time of his arrest, I read in his eyes that we were not mistaken", testifies an investigator. 

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The end of 30 years of stalking

In his first face to face with the rapist of the Sambre, he slips him "This is the end."

"He looked at me," says the policeman.

No doubt he has effectively integrated that it was the end of his journey, the end of 30 years of tracking which provokes a mixture of bitterness and satisfaction among the investigators.

At first, Dino Scala remains silent, then he begins to collaborate with the investigators.

He surrenders.

"He tells us that he would have liked to meet people like us before. But me too, I would have liked to meet him before", comments the policeman.

And then, the investigators trace the course of the predator's journey.

The first complaints, in the 80s, received in scandalous conditions, admits the policeman.

"At the time", he acknowledges, "there was not the same empathy, the same attention paid to the word of the woman".

The policeman turns to the civil parties and declares: "I apologize to you from the institution."

Today, he is convinced of one thing: all the plaintiffs in the trial are indeed victims of Dino Scala.