Posted 29.08.2012 12:59:24 UTC
Updated 29.08.2012 14:15:21 UTC
A Belgian court verdict ordering the release of the ex-wife and accomplice of pedophile Marc Dutroux on the grounds that she has served half her jail term, and sending her to a convent, has stirred up Belgium.
A hot debate over the court ruling on the historic pedophile court case dominated the Belgian public opinion.
The conditional release of Michel Martin, ex-wife and accomplice of the child murderer and pedophile Marc Dutroux after serving half of her 30 years jail term, which decides her to move into a convent, has caused a huge protest in the country.
Michelle Martin, who is ordered to move into the Clarisse Women's Convent in city of Malonne, has been met with a great anger by the locals.
Belgians, gathering at the convent which Martin will be staying, staged day-long protests.
The protestors shouted slogans against the Belgian justice systems.
In 1996, Michelle Martin was convicted of helping her ex-husband Marc Dutroux, who was found guilty of kidnapping and raping six girls and killing two and leaving two others to starve to death in a makeshift dungeon.
She was sentenced to 30 years in jail.
After 16 years she has spend behind the bars, the Belgian court once again considered the parole of Martin, a demand she had made for several times before, and ruled on sending her to a convent.
Belgium's highest appeal court approved the decision this week and decided to send Martin to the convent.