A Belgian jury has found Marc Dutroux guilty of murder in a case of the kidnap and rape of six girls and the death of four of them.
In the first of 243 counts, the 12 member jury convicted Dutroux of responsibility for kidnapping and holding hostage six girls, leading to torture and deaths. It found he was the leader of a band responsible for the crimes. He was then convicted of three murders: An Marchal, 17, and Eefje Lambrecks, 19, and an alleged accomplice.
The charge is one of the most serious made against Dutroux because he has denied killing the girls, even though he has admitted kidnapping and raping some of them.
Relatives of the 47-year-old monster's victims said they were hoping for closure. "I don't think this has helped me with the grieving process, but at least I will know that my granddaughter is avenged," said Jeanine Lejeune, whose eight-year-old granddaughter was one of the first to disappear.
Dutroux, 47, and his three co-defendants were not inside the court in Arlon to hear the verdicts to avoid any potential pressure or influence on the jurors. Once all 243 verdicts are given by the eight woman, four man, jury they will be brought in.
In Belgium, no appeal against a jury verdict is possible, except on procedural grounds. In that case, the Cour de Cassation, the supreme court, reviews the verdict.