Notorious Belgian child-killer applies for release

Europe February 04, 2013

Notorious Belgian child-killer applies for release

Photo: AP Marc Dutroux, right, is led out the courthouse of Neufchateau, Belgium, 180 kilometers (130 miles) east of Brussels. Marc Dutroux, a pedophile and child-killer who became one of Belgium’s most notorious criminals, is asking a sentencing court on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013 to release him from prison and monitor him with an electronic ankle bracelet. Dutroux, who is now 56, is serving a life term for kidnapping, torturing and abusing six girls in 1995 and 1996, and murdering four of them. He has been in prison for 16 years. His former wife, Michelle Martin, 53, who let two girls starve to death in the cellar while her husband was in jail for theft was approved for early release in July. She now lives in a convent. The court is not expected to rule on Dutroux’s request for freedom until Feb 18. Prison officials and prosecutors have recommended against his release.

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BRUSSELS (AP) — Marc Dutroux, a pedophile and child-killer who became one of Belgium's most notorious criminals, is asking a sentencing court to release him from prison and monitor him with an electronic ankle bracelet.

Dutroux, who is now 56, is serving a life term for kidnapping, torturing and abusing six girls in 1995 and 1996, and murdering four of them. He has been in prison for 16 years. His former wife, Michelle Martin — who let two girls starve to death in the cellar while her husband was in jail for theft — was approved for early release in July. She now lives in a convent.

The court is not expected to rule on Dutroux's request for freedom until Feb 18. Prison officials and prosecutors have recommended against his release.

Subjects
- General news,
- Violent crime,
- Crime
Locations
- Belgium,
- Western Europe,
- Europe

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