Paedophile and murderer Dutroux loses parole bid

Belgian paedophile Marc Dutroux who is serving a life sentence for kidnapping, torturing and abusing six girls in 1995 and 1996, and murdering four of them, has lost his bid for parole.

Dutroux, who has been in prison for 16 years, tried to convince a court that he would be no risk to the public if he was released while being monitored with an electronic ankle bracelet.

The ruling regarding the 56-year-old had been expected since prison officials and prosecutors had opposed his release.

Dutroux’s former wife, Michelle Martin – who had let two girls starve to death in a cellar while her husband was jailed for theft – was given early release in July, and now lives in a convent.