Wife of Belgian serial killer and pedophile is freed
A Belgian court decided to release the ex-wife and accomplice of the serial killer and pedophile Marc Dutroux. The decision relating to a crime that shocked the nation is likely to prove controversial.
Two appeals against Michelle Martin's release were rejected by Belgium's highest court on Tuesday. Martin had served 16 years of a 30-year prison sentence for helping Dutroux, who kidnapped and raped six girls in the 1990s. Four of the girls, who were confined in a dungeonlike cellar, died. The court said 52-year-old Martin was free to leave prison immediately, backing the decision of a regional court to release her into a convent under strict parole terms. Belgian law dictates that, having served a third of her sentence, Martin can be set free if a rehabilitation program is in place. National debate sparked The regional ruling had provoked anger among victims' families, leading to demonstrations around the convent in the community of Malonne. It also triggered a debate bout the need to impose full-term jail sentences without parole for those crimes deemed the most serious. The appeals, one led by the father of a victim and another lodged by prosecutors, were judged to be inadmissible or unfounded. Martin, who had sought release on several previous occasions, claimed she was under Dutroux's spell and that she helped him reluctantly. Judges had approved a conditional release last year, but this was blocked when - in light of the public outcry at the time - a French convent went back on its offer of a place for Martin. rc/mkg (AFP, dpa)
Belgian
Belgian
serial killer
pedophile
Marc Dutroux
Marc_Dutroux
Michelle Martin
Michelle_Martin
Belgium
Belgium Belgium_national_football_team Royal_Belgian_Football_Association Same-sex_marriage_in_Belgium Belgium_women's_national_football_team Ultratop Battle_of_Belgium Belgium_national_under-21_football_team Royal_Belgian_Cycling_League Belgium_Davis_Cup_team Belgium_national_rugby_union_team Belgium_Fed_Cup_team Belgium_national_basketball_team Football_in_Belgium Belgium_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest Belgium_men's_national_field_hockey_team
Tuesday
Martin
Martin_(TV_series) Martin,_Slovakia Paul_Martin Martin_County,_Florida C._F._Martin_&_Company Glenn_L._Martin_Company Martin_County,_Texas National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Martin_County,_Florida Martin,_Tennessee Tony_Martin_(rugby_league) Martin_County,_Minnesota Martin_County,_North_Carolina Division_of_Martin Martin_(name) Martin_(1978_film) Martin_County,_Indiana
Dutroux
Marc_Dutroux
1990
Martin
Martin_(TV_series) Martin,_Slovakia Paul_Martin Martin_County,_Florida C._F._Martin_&_Company Glenn_L._Martin_Company Martin_County,_Texas National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Martin_County,_Florida Martin,_Tennessee Tony_Martin_(rugby_league) Martin_County,_Minnesota Martin_County,_North_Carolina Division_of_Martin Martin_(name) Martin_(1978_film) Martin_County,_Indiana
Belgian
Martin
Martin_(TV_series) Martin,_Slovakia Paul_Martin Martin_County,_Florida C._F._Martin_&_Company Glenn_L._Martin_Company Martin_County,_Texas National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Martin_County,_Florida Martin,_Tennessee Tony_Martin_(rugby_league) Martin_County,_Minnesota Martin_County,_North_Carolina Division_of_Martin Martin_(name) Martin_(1978_film) Martin_County,_Indiana
Malonne
Malonne Namur
Martin
Martin_(TV_series) Martin,_Slovakia Paul_Martin Martin_County,_Florida C._F._Martin_&_Company Glenn_L._Martin_Company Martin_County,_Texas National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Martin_County,_Florida Martin,_Tennessee Tony_Martin_(rugby_league) Martin_County,_Minnesota Martin_County,_North_Carolina Division_of_Martin Martin_(name) Martin_(1978_film) Martin_County,_Indiana
Dutroux
Marc_Dutroux
French
Martin
Martin_(TV_series) Martin,_Slovakia Paul_Martin Martin_County,_Florida C._F._Martin_&_Company Glenn_L._Martin_Company Martin_County,_Texas National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Martin_County,_Florida Martin,_Tennessee Tony_Martin_(rugby_league) Martin_County,_Minnesota Martin_County,_North_Carolina Division_of_Martin Martin_(name) Martin_(1978_film) Martin_County,_Indiana
rc/mkg (AFP, dpa)
Belgium
Belgium
slot::in slot::keyword topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe0 type::location
Marc Dutroux
Marc_Dutroux
gender::male iptc::02000000 slot::keyword topic::justice type::entity type::offender type::person
Michelle Martin
wikidata:Q547953
gender::female iptc::02000000 slot::keyword topic::justice type::entity type::offender type::person
Belgian
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
serial killer
topic::none type::role type::value
pedophile
topic::none type::role type::value
Tuesday
topic::none type::time type::value
1990
topic::none type::time type::value
Malonne
Malonne
topic::none type::entity type::gpe type::gpe2 type::location
French
topic::none type::gpe0-x type::other
rc/mkg (AFP, dpa)
topic::none type::footer type::other
France