Belgium: childmurderer receives assisted suicide

[noname223]

Who Was Genevieve Lhermitte? Belgian Mom Who Slit the Throats of Her Five Children Euthanized on Her Own Request, 16 Years Later

On Tuesday, on the 16th anniversary of the murders, the 56-year-old's attorney Nicolas Cohen confirmed claims in the local media that his client had died via euthanasia.

www.ibtimes.sg

"A Belgian woman who murdered her own children has been euthanized on her own request, 16 years after the heinous crimes that shook the country, according to reports. Genevieve Lhermitte, then 40, used a kitchen knife to cut the throats of her son and four daughters, ages three to fourteen on February 28, 2007."

"She told the court: "I gave [my husband] a son and killed him. I've lost all children through my own fault. They never deserved it. I shall suffer to the end of my days - that is my punishment.""

Usually I think Belgium has good assisted suicide laws but when I first read it as a headline I was conflicted. I think prisoners should also have the right for assisted suicide. Though I think it was good to let her experience these 16 years as a prison sentence. Because giving her immediately the right for assisted suicide this would have been not been a punishment enough (maybe). I think it was good that she had some time to reflect on her actions.

Though maybe I don't have enough information to judge. This above is at least what my gut feeling says.

I can remember there was a similar case in Germany. A mother killed all her children and then survived a suicide attempt of jumping in front of a train. My mom listened to it in the news and was interested in the motives of that woman. Well my mom ruined my life with domestic violence and I think her actions will drive me to commit suicide. I won't speculate now about her motives. But I think overburdnendness played a key role.

Do you think it was right to let her receive euthanasia?

 

[jodes2]

Yeah why not. Wanting death is punishment enough

 

[Soulless Angel]

I am conflicted on this, how long did she have to fight to get this result, or was it a instant given to save money being wasted on scum? they state mental health, what mental health issues? Or was it put on so she could have an easier life until the result came that she wanted?
I think every detail needs to be publicy known before anyone can make a judgement, I agree in it, if it was done in the right way for the right reasons, and she does save a shit ton of money being wasted, yet she got what she wanted.... death, in an easy way out. never actually fully punished for her crimes

 

[IdeationIsForever]

This is a tough one.
My first honest feelings are that it's definitely unfair. Many of us are here struggling, some for decades, and since we are not Belgian citizens, we don't have the right of assisted suicide for reasons of severe psychological pain. I know it exist in other countries like Netherlands but for someone for a third world country where Euthanasia for terminal patients who are in horrible physical pain is illegal, to see that someone who committed a crime against her own children was given assisted suicide feels so unfair and wrong. Those are my first feelings.
Now, if she completed her sentence and lived her life in repent for several years, and it follows their law, it is what it is.
The health care system should have noticed if she was dangerous to others before, I think.
But I can't help to feel it's unfair. Here we are, people struggling, we haven't harmed anyone but ourselves perhaps, I won't apologise for feeling this is unfair.

 

[Forever Sleep]

For me- I suppose it would depend if she was actually competent when she committed the crimes. They are saying she was mentally ill but did she have enough faculty to know what she was doing? How do you even prove something like that? If she TRULY was in some kind of episode/trance- then- it's an absolute tragedy and is it REALLY fair to blame her? CAN you blame someone who isn't even them (in a way) when they committed a crime?

On the other hand- if she did in some way realise what she was doing- then, something feels kind of off about releasing her from her atonement. Like other people have said- we want out of this shit show too- and we haven't done anything wrong! Or at least- likely nothing as nearly bad as that.

 

[Ruma]

She was given an easy way out,her children weren't ,she slit their throats. She should have spent the rest of her sentence rotting away in jail. By all means kill yourself,but don't take innocent lives with you.

 

[Source Energy]

WTF!!!! They reward the more vile criminals with a peaceful death, while decent people who did no wrong are condemn to suffer the worst pains and are denied to die! It is outrageous. It should be the reverse!

 

[missingpeace]

The problem is we don't live in Belgium, if we did many of us would have been out of here already. They are quite liberal over there with this stuff. It's very disheartening to see someone who is not deserving get it though.. while we innocent people are here living our worst. Fuck life