The four, three Belgians and an Iraqi national, received the lengthy prison sentences in 2008 and 2009.

Two were convicted of manslaughter, one of kidnapping and a fourth of attempted manslaughter.

The four invoked an article on fair trials contained in the European Convention of Human Rights.

The European judges ruled that the Belgian judges had violated the convention for failing to provide any motivation.

Belgium has meanwhile changed the court procedure to ensure that convictions are motivated in such cases.

Flandersnews.be / Expatica