Gregory Robinson
A mum who murdered her five children has been euthanised on the 16th anniversary of the killings at her own request.
Nicolas Cohen, the lawyer representing Geneviève Lhermitte, 56, confirmed that she died on the same day the killings took place.
"It is this specific procedure that Mrs Lhermitte followed, with the various medical opinions having been collected," the lawyer said.
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Lhermitte’s mother also told Belgian news site, Sudinfo, that her daughter's life had been ‘unbearable’ for the last 16 years.
Lhermitte was found guilty of slitting the throats of her son and daughters, who were aged between three and 14, using a kitchen knife at their family home.
The family of seven lived in the town of Nivelles, Belgium, and the father was out of the country when Lhermitte murdered their children on 28 February, 2007.
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She then tried to take her own life in a failed suicide attempt.
After calling emergency services for help, she was taken into custody and charged with murder.
During the trial, which began in December 2008 and lasted for around two weeks, psychologists and psychiatrists told the jury that she was suffering from a severe mental disorder when she killed her children.
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She was sentenced to life in prison before being moved to a psychiatric hospital in 2019.
In 2010, Lhermitte also filed a civil case against a former psychiatrist, demanding up to 3 million euros after claiming that his 'inaction' failed to prevent the murders. However, she abandoned the lawsuit after 10 years.
Belgian law states that people can choose to be euthanised if they are deemed to be suffering from ‘unbearable’ psychological – not just physical – suffering that cannot be healed.
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Lhermitte would have had to be conscious of her decision and be able to convey her wish to end their life in a consistent and reasoned manner.
Psychologist Emilie Maroit told the RTL-TVI channel that Lhermitte likely chose to die on the day she killed her children in a ‘symbolic gesture in respect’ to them.
"It may also have been for her to finish what she started, because basically she wanted to end her life when she killed them," Maroit said.
If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone