The deed in Belgium 16 years ago shocked the world: the then 40-year-old Geneviève Lhermitte first knocked her five children unconscious and then slit their throats with a kitchen knife. Now the child killer took euthanasia – on the anniversary of the incomprehensible crime.
On the day exactly 16 years after she took the life of her children, Lhermitte was pronounced dead. She had previously requested euthanasia – in Belgium that is allowed if, for example, an intolerable mental illness is caused. “It is this particular procedure that Ms. Lhermitte has invoked,” said her attorney, Nicolas Cohen.
On February 28, 2007, the Belgian killed her four daughters and her son in her home in Nivelles, when the father was traveling. After the crime, Lhermitte attempted suicide, but was unsuccessful. The children were between three and fourteen years old at the time of the crime.
Since 2019 in a psychiatric institution
For the crime, the mother was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2008 – she tried to justify herself with mental problems in order to reduce the sentence. However, the jury found that she acted deliberately and with full knowledge of the facts. In 2019, she finally transferred from prison to a mental institution.
Belgian psychologist Emilie Maroit suggested to TV station RTL-TVI why Lhermitte wanted euthanasia after so many years: it could have been a belated “symbolic gesture to her children”.
Euthanasia has been possible in Belgium since 2002. In 2022, 2966 people officially took advantage of this offer, which, according to the responsible Belgian commission, represented an increase of almost ten percent compared to the previous year. However, euthanasia due to serious mental illness is relatively rare: about 20 cases are registered annually.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
