The ex-wife and convicted accomplice of a man known in Belgium for a series of pedophile murders will likely be released early from prison after serving half of her 30-year sentence.

Michele Martin was sentenced in 2004 for her role in supporting her husband's criminal activity in the 1990s. Marc Dutroux is serving a life sentence for abducting, imprisoning and raping six young girls. He was also found guilty of murdering two of the girls and letting another two starve to death.

Martin, who has been imprisoned since 1996, was granted conditional release due to good behavior. According to the prosecutor in the Belgian town of Mons, Claude Michaux, Martin could be released in a matter of weeks. He said there were no grounds to appeal the decision to Belgium's highest court.

"Though I do not agree with the decision, I have decided not to introduce an appeal," he said.

Martin's release now depends on the consent of French authorities to allow her to move to a convent in France.

Author: Matt Zuvela (dpa, AFP, AP)
Editor: Martin Kuebler