Belgian admits nursery murders

Tuesday 27 January 2009 12:33 GMT
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The loner who killed two babies and a carer at a Belgium nursery admitted the crimes today.

Kim De Gelder's motive for the knife attack last Friday, which also wounded 10 other young children and two adults, is still unknown, his lawyer Jaak Haentjens said.

"It remains a mystery," Mr Haentjens said before his 20-year-old client appeared in front of a judge in Dendermonde, where the killings took place. "I want to know why he did it. I am looking for the truth, whatever the truth may be."

"He obviously understands that he did something which is inhuman," said Haentjens, but he acknowledged that it was not clear whether his client felt any remorse.

"What happened is immeasurable suffering and I am trying to make that clear to him," the lawyer said.

De Gelder is suspected of the fatal stabbing of a 73-year-old woman on a remote farm the previous week, but he has not been charged with that.

Investigators say they have evidence De Gelder was planning to attack two more nurseries.

De Gelder, who was arrested shortly after the nursery attack, refused to speak or eat for three days, but finally spoke to his lawyer.

De Gelder faces three murder charges for the killings of a six-month-old boy, a nine-month-old girl and a 54-year-old care worker and 12 attempted murder charges for the 10 children and two workers who are still recovering from the serious wounds they suffered during the attack.

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