A letter written by Bruno Dayez, the lawyer for Marc Dutroux, will this week be sent to victims and parents of children murdered by Mr Dutroux. The Sudpresse publications are reporting this on Wednesday. The letter is part of a number of steps being taken to obtain Dutroux’s conditional release, having been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2004.
Me Dayez insists, “We do not want all-out war.” Dayez obtained Marc Dutroux’s approval as to the contents of the letter sent to Sabine Dardenne and Laetitia Delhez, as well as to the parents of Julie, Mélissa, An and Eefje. The lawyer explains, “It is a letter of appeasement and of openness. Marc Dutroux, who acknowledges his entire and overwhelming responsibility for the death of the four children...although he did not himself kill them, is addressing the parents and his victims to inform them that he is ready to respond to any questions they may have.”
“It is a pacifying approach. Rather than all parties fighting like cats and dogs for years, we are opening the door to discussion. Nobody has anything to lose.”
This letter comprises part of a future application for Marc Dutroux’s conditional release, having been sentenced to life imprisonment in 2004 for murder, rape, abduction, torture and illegal confinement. Me Dayez stresses, “Any conditional release in Belgium assumes that four requirements are satisfied.” These are that you have been sufficiently punished, have modified your behaviour, do not present a danger to the public and are able to reintegrate into society. “We are at the second stage in this case”, says the lawyer. Dayez considers that his client, now aged 61 and imprisoned for 22 years, has indeed been sufficiently punished.
The Brussels Times
