Article content

A rapist and murderer is to be put to death in Belgium this week, despite an EU ban on the death penalty, after a court granted him the right to euthanasia.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Rapist murderer gets death wish: Belgian man getting lethal injection at a clinic this week Back to video

Frank Van Den Bleeken, 52, is not physically ill, but claims his “psychological suffering” is unbearable and that he would prefer to die than spend more of his life behind bars.

He says he has no prospect of being released as he cannot overcome his uncontrollable sexual impulses, and that he does not wish another two or three decades in jail.

His application to die was accepted by Belgium’s Federal Euthanasia Commission in September, and over the weekend, he was given approval to be taken to a specialist clinic on Sunday, where he will be killed by lethal injection.

I am a human being, and regardless of what I’ve done, I remain a human being. So, yes, give me euthanasia

Belgium legalized euthanasia in 2002, and is one of only three countries to allow the practice, the others being the Netherlands and Luxembourg. More countries, including Switzerland and some states of America, allow doctors to assist suicide in certain circumstances.