belgian woman killed children february killed children kitchen knife stolen local grocery store husband visiting family morocco killed children tried kill suicide attempt failed taken custody charged degree murder subsequently sentenced life imprisonment regularly seen psychiatrist reported demonstrate mental issues claimed driven kill children troubles home living outsider financially supported family personal life born november brussels businessman student nurse younger sisters catherine struggled self confidence secondary studies graduated diploma french history year met future husband studying mathematics physics complete studies married september moved apartment physician residing befriended family morocco 1980s served young man host belgium considered adoptive father worked convenience store primary financial provider object living apartment thought temporary basis hired teacher shortly beginning new career gave birth child august years later delivered second child february june august granted leave teaching position depression birth child purchased house couple live dedicated apartment practice hired serve filing assistant time time period covered expenses including house repairs monthly life insurance family member gave birth daughters april family brussels provincial town paid mortgage lived second floor tensions began rising husband spend long hours away home regular bar spa addition trips year visit family length trip ranging week month son fifth child born august following year recommended psychiatrist began consulting psychiatrist crime february expected return trip morocco visit family took eldest daughter appointment picking rest children school preparing lunch heard voice tell machine running letters letter jewelry sisters letter friend letter called rotten stole intimacy husband children accused husband deaf blind concerns letters went grocery store slipped knives shopping bag told investigators returned hid knives called youngest daughter children watching tried child struggled resorted throat stolen knives speaking words child killed youngest son attempts child failed cut throat washed knife afterward bathroom sink according account told daughter surprise office entered office told sit chair wear blue eyes seated took marble plaque found nearby smashed head cut throat allegedly favorite asked sit chair throat killed wrote letters bathroom mirror blood later stated intended spell victim eldest daughter mother called told surprise like attacked entered office able dodge knife diving ground struggle suffered multiple stab wounds stabbed throat children dead attempted kill falling knife realized wound fatal wrote police red marker door called emergency services house investigators found children beds stuffed toys arms trial trial began december lasted weeks ending december court lawyers jury consisted women men confessed murder children trial focused drove commit crime told jury task discover woman hitherto perfect mother suddenly exploded statement early trial started thought process unstable kill children prosecutor began opening statements description scene met emergency services february teacher home prosecutor asked years prison trial testified role wife mother disrupted having middle aged belgian doctor living house family according accompanied honeymoon stayed room stated wait fell asleep love found weird said regarded stepfather think doctor loved husband way apart explaining intrusion relationship husband mentioned family reliance watched evenings went holiday summer depended financially court asked laid dead body year old daughter bathroom replied wanted hurt favorite trial ended receiving maximum sentence murder children court jury circumstances account closing argument said accept punishment court gave showed remorse actions earlier trial found sound mind committed acts held actions felt admitted psychiatric institution going prison jury follow opinions battling depression years concluded saw murder children committing suicide way aftermath trial billing filed received judgment divorce trial appealed decision later withdrew objection following trial able pay trial costs belgian law fell husband pick bill law belgium state seeking funds shared sale house divorce agreement overall court expenses fines said disgusted revolted injustice billing system attorney attempted bill written calling administrative requirements balanced given nature tragedy february remarried professor islamic law brussels daughter born couple year later june reported lost investment harassed attorney fees post trial lawsuit sentenced life imprisonment filed lawsuit seeking damages psychiatrist said psychiatrist rushed disturbed state crime committed wanted secure recognition prejudice genuinely suffered psychiatrist alleged trial reported meeting letter couldn meet february schedule december case dismissed court ruled criminal charges psychiatrist irrelevant popular culture belgian director screenwriter released children film based story positive reviews reviewer called film penetrating psychological drama portrays protagonist lives environment walls constantly closing children attained rating website rotten_tomatoes french speaking belgian actress played character based won cannes film festival best actress saint international film festival role december filed lawsuit demanding able review film screenplay ruled lawsuit production begun cast negotiations finished team approached french government receiving subsidies demonstrated intent hand work pair lawyer subsequently released official statement feel violation privacy understand filmmakers little respect
Genevieve Lhermitte