Funeral held for murdered Belgian schoolgirls

Hundreds of mourners today attended the funeral service of murdered schoolgirl Stacy Lemmens (aged seven) who was strangled along with her 10-year-old stepsister in a double murder which has shocked Belgium.

The Liege church service was carried live by the country’s leading television channels.

Police found the bodies of both girls stuffed into a storm sewer last Wednesday near the street in this eastern city where they disappeared from a late-night street party almost three weeks earlier.

Investigators said both girls had been strangled and 10-year-old Nathalie Mahy also showed signs of rape.

Convicted child rapist Abdallah Aid Oud (aged 39) has been charged with the girls’ kidnap. He has been held by police since June 13 but denies any involvement in the crimes.

Nathalie was buried on Saturday after a family ceremony.

In contrast, Stacy’s funeral was open to media and public and several hundred people attended, including leading local politicians.

The hearse carrying Stacy’s white coffin to the cemetery was accompanied by escorted by outriders from her father’s motorcycle club.