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Lhermitte in court before her sentencing in 2008
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A 56yearold Belgian woman who killed her five children was euthanized exactly 16 years after the murders.
Genevieve Lhermitte killed her son and four daughters, aged three to 14, on February 28, 2007 in the Belgian town of Nivelles while their father was away.
She then tried to take her own life, but failed and eventually called emergency services for help.
Lhermitte was sentenced to life in prison in 2008 before being transferred to a psychiatric hospital in 2019.
In Belgium, the law allows people to opt for euthanasia when they are suffering from “unbearable” psychological ailments, not just physical, that cannot be cured.
The person must be aware of the decision and be able to express their desire in a reasonable and consistent manner.
“It is this specific procedure that Ms. Lhermitte has followed, obtaining various medical opinions,” her attorney said.
Psychologist Emilie Maroit told RTLTVI that Lhermitte probably chose to die on February 28, in a “symbolic gesture of respect for her children”.
“It could have been for her too to finish what she started because basically she wanted to end her life when she killed her,” he added.
The crime caused a stir in Belgium in 2007.
During the trial, Lhermitte’s attorneys argued that she suffered from a mental disorder and should not be sent to prison. But the jury found her guilty of first degree murder and sentenced her to life imprisonment.
In 2010, Lhermitte filed a civil lawsuit, seeking up to €3 million from a former psychiatrist and claiming her “inaction” did not stop the killings, but she eventually dropped out of the lawsuit after 10 years.
Around 2,966 people died from euthanasia in Belgium in 2022, a 10% increase from 2021.
Cancer remains the most common reason, but officials said patients experience “various types of physical and mental suffering” in about three out of four cases.
Since 2014, Belgium has allowed euthanasia for children and adults when they are terminally ill and in great pain and with parental consent.