Dutroux appeals rape and murder convictions

Marc Dutroux lodged an appeal yesterday with the Belgian supreme court against his conviction for multiple child rape and murder.

A day after he was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole, Dutroux and his two co-defendants - his ex-wife Michelle Martin and Michel Lelievre - were ordered to pay damages exceeding €1 million ($1.96 million) to the families of his victims.

Dutroux' appeal claims procedural errors were made during his 3 1/2-month trial. Under Belgian law, a jury trial verdict can only be appealed on procedural grounds to the Cour de Cassation, the country's supreme court.