BRUSSELS – One of the men standing trial alongside suspected child murderer Marc Dutroux was taken to hospital on Wednesday after complaining he was feeling unwell.

Michel Nihoul, who has a history of heart complaints, left the Arlon courtroom at around 11am and was driven to a nearby hospital in a police-escorted ambulance.

Nihoul’s lawyer, Xavier Attout, said his client was conscious and had been hospitalised as a precautionary measure.

Nihoul, described as a ‘Belgian businessman’, is one of four people on trail in Arlon. The others are Dutroux himself, Michel Lelievre, an alleged Dutroux accomplice and Michelle Martin, the suspected child killer’s ex-wife.

Meanwhile, Dutroux has said he will lodge a formal complaint against the prison authorities in Arlon following a routine search of his cell during which he said prison guards attacked him.

The incident happened on Tuesday.

The prison authorities accept that Dutroux had to be forcibly restrained during the search but say “no violence” was used.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Belgian news