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Belgium’s legal system has granted the wish of a long incarcerated Mass-going prisoner to die by assisted suicide.
Frank Van Den Bleeken, 50, had been in prison for decades after being convicted of murder, rape and other sexual crimes.
He had argued that he had no prospect of release, since he could not overcome his violent sexual impulses.
He had requested a transfer to a specialised psychiatric centre in the Netherlands for treatment or, failing that, a mercy killing.
Belgian authorities denied the transfer request earlier this year.
A source close to the case said Van Den Bleeken had been informed that a new centre providing appropriate psychiatric care would open later this year in Belgium.
But the convict, who left prison only once in years – to attend his mother’s funeral – opted to pursue assisted killing, for which he had already received medical approval.
According to the Daily Mail, early next week, when the final legal formalities have been completed, he will be allowed to spend two days saying his goodbyes to family and friends.
Then, in a hospital room, his life will be ended painlessly.
The family of the woman he raped and killed in 1989 can barely believe that Van Den Bleeken has been spared a possible 30 or 40 more years of further incarceration.
He had already been convicted of sexual offences when he killed Christine Remacle, then he convinced a judge he was insane and was sent to a secure institution.
After seven years he was released and within weeks committed three more sexual assaults, including one on a child.
This led to his being incarcerated indefinitely.
Van Den Bleeken sits in his cell alone most days and cannot bear the cries and screams of the 150 or so other patients in a secure institution near Bruges.
But his lawyer said he had become very religious and attends Mass once a week.
“He knows he’s made mistakes and in his own mind he doesn’t deserve to be alive,” the lawyer said.
Van Den Bleeken says he was raped when he was 15.
In the 24 hours since the Van Den Bleeken judgement was handed down, at least 15 more Belgian prisoners have lodged right-to-die requests with the country’s Federal Euthanasia Commission.
The Van Den Bleeken ruling was the first involving a prisoner since the Belgian euthanasia law was introduced 12 years ago.
Belgium does not have capital punishment.
Sources
- Sydney Morning Herald
- Daily Mail
- Image: BBC
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