The woman committed the crimes on February 28, 2007. He had four daughters, a female and a male between the ages of 3 and 14. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Today 09:58
A Belgian woman who killed her five children was euthanized 16 years after the crimes.
Genovefa Lhermitte killed her four daughters and her son, between the ages of 3 and 14, in the town of Nivelles on February 28, 2007, while the children’s father was away from home.
He then tried to take his own life but in vain he called the emergency services for help.
A 56-year-old woman was sentenced in 2008 to life in prison. In 2019, he was transferred to a psychiatric hospital.
In Belgium, the law allows people to choose euthanasia if they are considered “unbearable” and incurable psychological suffering, not just physical.
Recommended: The heir to a dynasty of lawyers is convicted of the murder of his wife and son
A person must be aware of his decision and must express his desire in a reasoned and coherent way.
“This is the specific procedure that Ms. Lhermitte followed, after compiling various medical opinions,” the lawyer said.
Psychologist Emilie Maroit told RTL-TVI that Lhermitte probably wanted to die on February 28 in a “symbolic gesture of respect for his children”.
“It could also be his way of ending what he started, because he basically wanted to end his life when he killed them,” said the psychologist.
terrible slaughter
Belgium was moved by the massacre and subsequent trial.
During the trial, Lhermitte’s lawyers argued that he has a mental disorder and should not be sent to prison. However, the jury found her guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced her to prison.
In 2010, Lhermitte filed a civil lawsuit demanding up to $2.6 million from the psychiatrist, saying he did not prevent the murders, but the legal battle ended after 10 years.
In 2022, some 2,966 people died from euthanasia in the Netherlands, an increase of 10% compared to 2021.
Cancer remains the most common cause, but the authors reported that almost three out of four patients reported “various types of suffering, both physical and psychological.”
Since 2014, Belgium has allowed children to be assisted in dying, as well as adults, if they are ill, in great pain and have parental consent.
