MALONNE, Belgium (AP) — About 1,000 people are protesting the planned early release of the ex-wife of a Belgian pedophile who aided her husband's abuse and murder of young girls.
The protest is taking place in Malonne, south of Brussels, where a convent has offered to take in Michelle Martin, former wife of Marc Dutroux, who was convicted of helping him kidnap, rape and kill several young girls in the 1990's. Martin also let two 8-year-old girls imprisoned in the basement die of starvation while Dutroux spent four months in jail for theft.
Monique Pire, a resident, said Friday, "I don't understand how we can release someone who let children die in a cave," Pire said.
Martin has served 16 years of a 30-year sentence. She's expected to be released within weeks.
