Editing Marc Dutroux (section)

== Trial ==
Dutroux's trial began on 1 March 2004, some seven and a half years after his initial arrest.<ref name="irishtimes.com1">{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/dutroux-trial-to-revive-belgium-s-trauma-1.1133525|title=Dutroux trial to revive Belgium's trauma|date=1 March 2004|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=12 July 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070542/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/dutroux-trial-to-revive-belgium-s-trauma-1.1133525|url-status=live}}</ref> It was a [[jury trial|trial by jury]] and up to 450 people were called upon to testify. The trial took place in [[Arlon]], the capital of the [[Luxembourg (province of Belgium)|Belgian province of Luxembourg]], where the investigations had started. Dutroux was tried for the murders of An Marchal, Eefje Lambrecks and Bernard Weinstein. Dutroux was also charged with a host of other crimes: [[auto theft]], [[Kidnapping|abduction]], [[attempted murder]] and attempted abduction, [[child molestation|molestation]], and three unrelated rapes of women from [[Slovakia]].<ref>[http://kriminalistika.eu/muzeumzla/dutroux/dutroux.html Marc Dutroux] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226053501/http://kriminalistika.eu/muzeumzla/dutroux/dutroux.html |date=26 December 2015 }} at Kriminalstika.eu. Retrieved 12 July 2015</ref>[[File:DutrouxAffairFigures.jpg|thumb|The defendants of the trial, left to right, Marc Dutroux, Michel Lelièvre, Michelle Martin, and Jean-Michel Nihoul.]]

Martin was tried as an accomplice, as were Lelièvre and [[Michel Nihoul]]. To protect the accused, they were made to sit in a glass cage during the trial. In the first week of the trial, photos of Dutroux's face were not allowed to be printed in Belgian newspapers for privacy reasons; this ban remained in force until 9 March.<ref>{{cite news|last=Siuberski|first=Phillipe|title=Dutroux lashes out at media|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/09/1078594307568.html|newspaper=The Age|date=9 March 2004|access-date=18 December 2012|archive-date=1 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101061755/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/09/1078594307568.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In a rare move, the [[jury]] at the [[Court of assizes (Belgium)|assizes trial]] publicly protested the presiding judge Stéphane Goux's handling of the debates and the victims' testimonies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.humanite.fr/node/304250|newspaper=l'Humanité|title=Procès Dutroux. Le président rappelé à l'ordre|trans-title=Dutroux trial. President recalled to order|date=22 April 2004|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=23 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023100121/https://www.humanite.fr/node/304250|url-status=live}}</ref> On 14 June 2004, after three months of trial, the jury went into seclusion to reach their verdicts on Dutroux and the three other accused. Verdicts were returned on 17 June 2004 after three days of deliberation.<ref name="irishtimes.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/belgian-paedophile-dutroux-guilty-of-rape-and-murder-1.1145387|title=Belgian paedophile Dutroux guilty of rape and murder|date=18 June 2004|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=12 July 2015|archive-date=3 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603070317/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/belgian-paedophile-dutroux-guilty-of-rape-and-murder-1.1145387|url-status=live}}</ref> Dutroux, Martin and Lelièvre were found guilty on all charges; the jury were unable to reach a verdict on Nihoul's role.<ref name="irishtimes.com" />

=== Dutroux's testimony ===
Dutroux claimed that he was a low dog in a powerful [[pedophile network]]. He further claimed that Michel Nihoul was the organizer of their abductions. While admitting some abductions, he denied being a murderer, although he had earlier confessed to killing Weinstein.<ref name="irishtimes.com1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Black |first=Ian |date=11 Jun 2004 |title=Dutroux insists he was part of paedophile ring |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/11/dutroux.ianblack |access-date=13 Sep 2022 |website=The Guardian |archive-date=13 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220913201349/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/11/dutroux.ianblack |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="guardingdungeondeath">{{cite web |last1=Black |first1=Ian |date=4 March 2004 |title=Dutroux boasts of dungeon of death |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/04/dutroux.ianblack |access-date=8 November 2019 |website=[[The Guardian]] |archive-date=20 February 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170220042249/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/04/dutroux.ianblack |url-status=live }}</ref> He said that he did torture and abuse all of the girls but denied killing any of them until the very end.<ref name="telegraphkill" /> Dutroux further denied kidnapping, raping and murdering Julie Lejeune and Mélissa Russo. He, however, admitted to incarcerating them at one of his houses.<ref name="guardian" />   In the case of Lejeune and Russo, Dutroux also claimed that he had "protected them from a powerful and sinister child sex ring."<ref name="guardiandungeondeath">{{cite web |last1=Black |first1=Ian |title=Dutroux boasts of dungeon of death |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/04/dutroux.ianblack |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170220042249/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/04/dutroux.ianblack |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2017 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=8 November 2019}}</ref> His testimony that he never raped Lejeune and Russo was somewhat supported by examinations by psychiatrists in 1996, which stated that Dutroux did not fit the paedophile profile. He was not attracted to children, but he might have chosen to abduct younger victims because they were easier to manipulate and control.<ref name="profile" />{{check quotation}} Dutroux admitted to the abduction and rape of the other girls. He also admitted to burying his accomplice, Bernard Weinstein, alive for ''"''letting the girls die."<ref name="telegraphburied" /> Dutroux further said that two unidentified policemen had taken part with him in the kidnapping of An Marchal and Eefje Lambrecks.<ref name="guardiandungeondeath" /> He boasted about having built the dungeon in which Marchal and Lambrecks were held for a while. He said: ''"''I wanted to create a hiding place to spare them from being sent to a prostitution ring.''"'' Dutroux admitted to raping Lambrecks. He said that Weinstein had raped Marchal. He also admitted to drugging both of them. Dutroux also admitted that he kidnapped Sabine Dardenne and raped her. He admitted to kidnapping and raping Laetitia Delhez but not handing them over to Nihoul "to spare them the fate of An and Eefje."<ref name="guardiandungeondeath" /> Dutroux's lawyer, Xavier Magnee, repeatedly said that the prosecution never followed up on evidence of a network surrounding Dutroux.<ref name="telegraphburied" />

=== Michelle Martin's testimony ===
Martin testified that Dutroux and Weinstein kidnapped Lejeune and Russo.<ref name="guardiandungeondeath" /> She also said that Dutroux had told her that he had murdered Weinstein.<ref name="guardiandungeondeath" /> Martin further said that Dutroux and Weinstein had killed Marchal and Lambrecks.<ref name="guardiandungeondeath" /> She further testified that Lejeune and Russo starved to death in their basement in 1996 while Dutroux was in jail. She claims that she was too scared to descend to the basement.<ref name="guardiandungeondeath" />

Martin said that Dutroux had already decided to abduct girls in 1985. He had said that it was easier to abduct and rape girls than to start affairs with them. This way he would also have more resources and time to spend on her. So she had to help him with the abductions.<ref name="nieuwsblad" />

=== Sentencing ===
The [[Capital punishment in Belgium|death penalty]] was abolished in Belgium in 1996. The last execution for common-law crimes was in 1918. However, the majority of Belgians, at the time of the trial, would have supported Dutroux receiving the death penalty.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/buitenland/niet-alle-vragen-over-marc-dutroux-zijn-beantwoord~a691596/|newspaper=Die Volkskrant|title=Niet alle vragen over Marc Dutroux zijn beantwoord|trans-title=Not all questions about Marc Dutroux are answered|first1=Bart|last1=Dirks|date=1 March 2004|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=24 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024153806/https://www.volkskrant.nl/buitenland/niet-alle-vragen-over-marc-dutroux-zijn-beantwoord~a691596/|url-status=live}}</ref> On 22 June 2004, Dutroux received the maximum sentence of [[life imprisonment]], while Martin received 30 years and Lelièvre 25 years. The jury was asked to go back into seclusion to decide whether or not Nihoul was an accomplice.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

On 23 June, Dutroux lodged an appeal against his sentence.<ref>{{cite web|title=Belgium's Dutroux 'lodges appeal'|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3834499.stm|publisher=BBC News (BBC)|date=23 June 2004|access-date=18 December 2012|archive-date=4 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704062532/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3834499.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Although Nihoul was [[acquittal|acquitted]] of [[kidnapping]] and [[Conspiracy (crime)|conspiracy]] charges, he was convicted on drug-related charges and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. Nihoul was released in the spring of 2006. He resided in [[Zeebrugge]] until his death on 23 October 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=La |first=J. |date=2025-04-13 |title=Michel Nihoul est décédé |url=https://www.lalibre.be/belgique/societe/2019/10/23/michel-nihoul-est-decede-EXEC3KCHXFCJTFO456SNXAJUVA/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=La Libre.be |language=fr}}</ref>

On 19 August 2012, about 2,000 people in Brussels demonstrated against Martin's possible early release from prison. She has since been [[parole]]d, 16 years into her sentence,<ref>{{cite news|title=Belgians demand pedophile accomplice stays in jail |date=19 August 2012 |url=http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/19/4739041/belgians-demand-pedophile-accomplice.html |work=Sacbee News }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and was released into the care of the [[Poor Clares]] in [[Malonne]]. She was given shelter, although she was not part of the community. The sisters have declared that they were not her guardian and shelter was given under the condition that she would not violate the conditions of her parole.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ad.nl/buitenland/michelle-martin-onherkenbaar-veranderd~abff3872/|title=Michelle Martin onherkenbaar veranderd|trans-title=Michelle Martin irrecognisably changed|date=30 April 2014|newspaper=Algemeen Dagblad|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=24 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024205316/https://www.ad.nl/buitenland/michelle-martin-onherkenbaar-veranderd~abff3872/|url-status=live}}</ref> As the convent has since been sold, she has had to find new shelter or go back to prison. A former judge has created an apartment in his converted farmhouse, where she now lives.<ref>[http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/binnenland/2.31353 Article on the website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024153355/http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/binnenland/2.31353 |date=24 October 2017 }} of Belgian television and radiostation [[Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie|VRT]] (in Dutch): Michelle Martin moves to ex-judge</ref><ref>[https://brandpunt.kro-ncrv.nl/brandpunt/oud-rechter-neemt-ex-vrouw-dutroux-in-huis-ik-heb-ruimte-genoeg/ Website article relating to a Dutch TV program (in Dutch)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024152920/https://brandpunt.kro-ncrv.nl/brandpunt/oud-rechter-neemt-ex-vrouw-dutroux-in-huis-ik-heb-ruimte-genoeg/ |date=24 October 2017 }}, TV program about the judge who has given Michelle Martin shelter in his converted farm</ref>

On 4 February 2013, Dutroux requested the court in Brussels for an early release from prison.<ref>{{cite web|title=Marc Dutroux: Child Killer Wants Early Release|url=http://news.sky.com/story/1047478/marc-dutroux-child-killer-wants-early-release|publisher=Sky News (BSkyB)|date=4 February 2013|access-date=18 February 2013|archive-date=8 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208050058/http://news.sky.com/story/1047478/marc-dutroux-child-killer-wants-early-release|url-status=live}}</ref> He insisted that he was "no longer dangerous" and wanted to be released into [[house arrest]] with an electronic tag ([[Electronic tagging|ankle bracelet]]) placed upon him. On 18 February, the court denied his request.<ref>{{cite news|title=Belgium court denies Marc Dutroux release|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21498535|work=BBC News|date=18 February 2013|access-date=18 February 2013|archive-date=18 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218210149/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21498535|url-status=live}}</ref> Dutroux is currently being held in solitary confinement in the prison of [[Nijvel|Nivelles]].<ref>{{cite news| trans-title= Marc Dutroux in court on 4 February to get ankle bracelet| title= Marc Dutroux op 4 februari voor strafuitvoeringsrechtbank voor enkelband| work= [[De Standaard]]| url= http://www.standaard.be/artikel/detail.aspx?artikelid=DMF20121227_00415128| date= 27 December 2012| access-date= 27 December 2012| archive-date= 18 September 2023| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230918075351/https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20121227_00415128| url-status= live}}</ref>

In October 2019, Dutroux won the pre-parole right to a psychiatric assessment,<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 October 2019|title=Belgian paedophile serial killer Dutroux wins pre-parole evaluation|url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/europe/20191028-belgian-paedophile-serial-killer-dutroux-wins-pre-parole-evaluation|access-date=15 August 2020|website=RFI|language=en|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111232029/https://www.rfi.fr/en/europe/20191028-belgian-paedophile-serial-killer-dutroux-wins-pre-parole-evaluation|url-status=live}}</ref> which was supposed to take place in May 2020 but was delayed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 May 2020|title=Coronavirus delays infamous paedophile Marc Dutroux's pre-parole exam|url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/all-news/belgium-all-news/109873/coronavirus-delays-infamous-paedophile-marc-dutroux-pre-parole-exam/|access-date=15 August 2020|website=The Brussels Times|language=en|archive-date=28 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528231643/https://www.brusselstimes.com/all-news/belgium-all-news/109873/coronavirus-delays-infamous-paedophile-marc-dutroux-pre-parole-exam/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! scope="col" | Name of suspect
! scope="col" | Profession
! scope="col" | Charged with
! scope="col" | Convicted of
! scope="col" | Sentence
! scope="col" | Release
|-
| Marc Dutroux
| Unemployed electrician, convicted child kidnapper and rapist
| Murder (of An and Eefje as well as Bernard Weinstein), rape, kidnapping (of six girls), conspiracy, drug offenses
| Murder (of An and Eefje as well as Bernard Weinstein), rape, kidnapping (of six girls), conspiracy, drug offenses
| Life in prison
| Eligible for early release after 30 years in 2021
|-
| Michelle Martin
| Housewife
| Kidnapping, murder of Julie and Mélissa
| Convicted of letting Julie and Mélissa starve to death and assisting in the kidnappings
| 30 years' imprisonment
| Released under conditions in 2012 after serving 16 of the 30 years<ref name="kriminalistika" />
|-
| Michel Nihoul
| Businessman
| Kidnapping, conspiracy, gang formation, document fraud, drug trafficking, car smuggling
| Acquitted of kidnapping, document fraud, trading of stolen vehicles<ref name="nytconvicted">{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Craig |title=Belgian Man Is Convicted Of Raping and Killing Girls |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/18/world/belgian-man-is-convicted-of-raping-and-killing-girls.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=18 June 2004 |access-date=9 November 2019 |archive-date=30 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030202024/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/18/world/belgian-man-is-convicted-of-raping-and-killing-girls.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| 5 years' imprisonment
| Was released early in May 2006 under conditions<ref name="brf">{{cite web |title=Michel Nihoul wird vorzeitig aus der Haft entlassen |url=https://brf.be/national/6134/ |website=brf.be |date=19 April 2006 |publisher=BRF |access-date=9 November 2019 |archive-date=9 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109171844/https://brf.be/national/6134/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| Michel Lelièvre
| Drug addict and petty thief
| Kidnapping, rape, murder
| Kidnapping of An, Eefje, Sabine and Laetitia and rape
| 25 years' imprisonment
| Was released under conditions in October 2019<ref name="lesoirlelievre">{{cite web |title=L'avocate de Michel Lelièvre: "Il a mûri, il est prêt à réintégrer la société" |url=https://www.lesoir.be/250659/article/2019-10-01/lavocate-de-michel-lelievre-il-muri-il-est-pret-reintegrer-la-societe |website=lesoir.be |date=October 2019 |publisher=Le Soir |access-date=9 November 2019 |archive-date=9 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109142658/https://www.lesoir.be/250659/article/2019-10-01/lavocate-de-michel-lelievre-il-muri-il-est-pret-reintegrer-la-societe |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

=== Michel Nihoul ===
[[Michel Nihoul]] was a businessman known to frequently attend sex parties. He was accused of being the brains behind the child kidnapping and abuse operation around Dutroux.<ref name="guardian" /> Nihoul's lawyer in the case, Frederic Clement de Clety, denied all charges made against Nihoul by Dutroux and called him a "liar and manipulator."<ref name="guardiandungeondeath" /> When the investigative journalist Olenka Frenkiel met Nihoul in Brussels, he reportedly greeted her with the words "I am the monster of Belgium." He told her that he was certain that he would never be prosecuted. During the encounter, he grabbed her, tickled her and pulled her onto him so that she called for her colleagues to help her get away from him. Frenkiel was working on a documentary on the case for the BBC.<ref name="guardian" /> In 2004, at the end of the Dutroux case trial, he was released of all charges of child abduction.<ref>{{cite news |title=Procès Dutroux-bis: Michel Nihoul inculpé, non lieu en vue |url=https://www.lalibre.be/belgique/proces-dutroux-bis-michel-nihoul-inculpe-non-lieu-en-vue-51b8bbdce4b0de6db9bb5234 |access-date=9 April 2020 |agency=Belga |publisher=La libre Belgique |date=3 May 2010 |archive-date=29 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129101219/https://www.lalibre.be/belgique/proces-dutroux-bis-michel-nihoul-inculpe-non-lieu-en-vue-51b8bbdce4b0de6db9bb5234 |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2010, the Belgian prosecutor's office dropped all charges against Nihoul relating to participation in a paedophile ring in the absence of any tangible evidence.<ref>{{cite news |title=Non-lieu total pour Michel Nihoul |url=https://www.7sur7.be/belgique/non-lieu-total-pour-michel-nihoul~a00ba434/ |access-date=9 April 2020 |publisher=7 sur 7 |date=20 May 2010 |archive-date=21 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421220059/https://www.7sur7.be/belgique/non-lieu-total-pour-michel-nihoul~a00ba434/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Judges ===
* Jean-Marc Connerotte (on his initiative two girls were rescued, was removed from the case for attending a fundraising dinner for families)
* Jacques Langlois (investigating magistrate). Dutroux case was his first assignment<ref name="guardian" />
* Stephane Goux (judge presiding over verdict)<ref name="telegraphkill">{{cite web |last1=Evans-Pritchard |first1=Ambrose |title=Why didn't you kill me, child rape victim asks Dutroux |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belarus/1459791/Why-didnt-you-kill-me-child-rape-victim-asks-Dutroux.html |website=telegraph.co.uk |date=20 April 2004 |publisher=telegraph |access-date=8 November 2019 |archive-date=8 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108092325/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belarus/1459791/Why-didnt-you-kill-me-child-rape-victim-asks-Dutroux.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Jean-Claude Van Espen (was in charge of the murder investigation of Christine van Hees, resigned from the Dutroux case and the murder investigation around van Hees after his close ties to Michel Nihoul were made public in 1998){{citation needed|date=July 2023}}