Brussels: A Belgian serial rapist, who sought legal permission for euthanasia, because of his ‘unbearable’ psychological suffering, is to have his wish granted, IBT reported.
Frank Van Den Bleeken, who has spent 30 years behind bars after being convicted of a series of rapes and a rape and murder of a teenager, has been permitted euthanasia in a jail in Bruges on 11 January, local media reported.
The government has not released a statement on the matter, but a justice ministry spokeswoman was quoted by Flemish-language newspaper De Morgen as saying: “Euthanasia will indeed be implemented. Now the time has come.”
Van Den Bleeken requested for years that the state help him end his life, after Belgium became the second country outside the Netherlands to legalise euthanasia 12 years ago. He was granted his wish in September 2014, but no date was set for his death. There was a record of 1,807 cases of euthanasia in the country in 2013.
