Lawyer makes new attempt to free child killer and rapist Marc Dutroux
Marc Dutroux's lawyer will make a new attempt to secure his client's release, Sudinfo reports. Dutroux was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2004 for kidnapping, hostage-taking, rape, murder and illegal trafficking.
The reason for the new release attempt is the case of Freddy Horion, who murdered car dealer Roland Steyaert and his family in 1979. The European Court of Human Rights ruled in December that Belgium was treating the six-time murderer "inhumanely". Horion now has six months to move to an institution where he can work on his return to society.
Dutroux's lawyer, Bruno Dayez, claims the same should be possible for his client. "There are clear similarities between the two cases," he said, referring to the conditions in which his client is being held. Dutroux's letters are being read, and he can only speak to a few people. "This man is being censored and muzzled. This is against human rights," Dayez said.
Danger to society
One notable difference is that Horion, unlike Dutroux, is no longer considered by psychiatric experts to be a danger to society. Dayez wants to find a psychiatrist "who dares to go against the conclusions of the parole board's experts. I am aware that I will probably have to look abroad".
If Dayez gets a favourable report, he wants to start a rehabilitation plan. "After that, I would like to apply for an ankle tag for my client. It is still uncertain where he will have to serve this sentence, but it will have to be where he is protected from the people's vengeance."
Dutroux was arrested in the summer of 1996 when it emerged that he was responsible for the kidnapping, hostage-taking and rape of six girls. Four of his victims died. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2004. Following public outrage, the case led to significant police and judicial reforms in Belgium.
© BELGA PHOTO THIERRY ROGE
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