BELGIUM: Mr Marc Dutroux, chief defendant in a child rape and murder trial that has transfixed Belgium for three months, rejected the most serious charges against him yesterday in a final courtroom appeal.
Speaking to the 12-member jury, he expressed "sincere regret" for what he did, but did not ask for forgiveness from the victims' families.
"I am not a murderer," Mr Dutroux told the packed court in Arlon. He nevertheless bore responsibility for the four victims who died because he "did not protect them enough".
He admitted kidnapping and sexually abusing the two surviving victims, Sabine Dardenne and Laetitia Delhez, who were rescued from their basement prison in his house two days before his arrest in August 1996.
However, he denied killing two teenagers, An Marchal and Eefje Lambrecks, as well as an alleged accomplice Bernard Weinstein.
He also denied involvement in the kidnapping of two eight-year-olds, Julie Lejeune and Melissa Russo, who died in early 1996.
All five bodies were found buried on Mr Dutroux properties after his arrest.
Mr Dutroux, who faces up to life in prison if convicted, requested three hours to read a 21-page statement, in which he intended to play up the role of his three co-defendants in the crimes and play down the central role prosecutors say he had, according to his lawyers.
After the final words are heard, the eight women and four men on the jury were to receive the complete list of charges - about 260 in all - from Judge Stephane Goux, before beginning deliberations on Monday. A verdict could come as early as the middle of next week.