Dutroux Gets Life in Prison

The Belgian paedophile Marc Dutroux was sentenced to life in prison today for kidnapping, raping and murdering young girls.

A 12-member jury and three-judge panel returned the sentence, bringing to an end the trial in Arlon, south-east Belgium, which has horrified the nation and been dubbed Belgium's "trial of the century".

Earlier today, Dutroux's defence lawyers had entered final pleas, reminding the court that he did not act alone.

But the jury and panel of judges agreed with prosecutors who had yesterday asked for the life sentence. They had argued Dutroux was a psychopath and unrepentant child rapist who threatened to strike again. Dutroux, 47, was convicted last week of kidnapping and raping young girls between 1995 and 1996 and killing two of them. He kept his victims locked in his basement, which had been converted into a dungeon.

The case outraged the country - first for the depravity of the crimes, and then the inept police work surrounding the investigation.

The public was shocked to learn that police searched Dutroux's house in 1995 but failed to find the secret basement cell, even though they heard voices. A second search also was unsuccessful.

Adding to public disbelief was the fact that Dutroux had previously been convicted for paedophilia and was on parole for raping schoolgirls in 1989 when he was arrested, in 1996, on suspicions of kidnapping six other girls.

He was also convicted for involvement in the abduction of two eight-year-olds, Julie Lejeune and Melissa Russo, who died of starvation in his basement.

Dutroux's accomplices await sentencing. They include his ex-wife, Michelle Martin, who was found guilty of aiding and abetting the crimes. Dutroux was away serving a short jail term for car theft as the eight-year-olds starved, and Martin testified she was afraid to go downstairs to feed them.