Sabine Dardenne

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Sabine Dardenne (born 1983) is a Belgian woman who, at the age of twelve, on May 28, 1996, was kidnapped by serial killer Marc Dutroux while on her way to school. Dardenne was one of Dutroux's last two victims. She survived, but four other girls and an alleged accomplice named Bernard Weinstein were found dead on Dutroux's properties.

Dardenne and 14-year-old Laetitia Delhez, who had been abducted a couple of days earlier, were rescued on August 15, 1996 by the Belgian police, two days after Dutroux had been arrested. Dutroux admitted to having raped them both and abducting them. He managed to convince Dardenne and Delhez (12 and 14), that he had rescued them from a gang that wanted to ransom and kill them.

Dardenne's ordeal in the basement of Dutroux's house lasted 80 days. Earlier victims included eight-year-olds Melissa Russo and Julie Lejeune, who died of starvation during their ordeal, as well as seventeen-year-old An Marchal and nineteen year old Eefje Lambrecks, both of whom were murdered.

The slow pace of the trial and disturbing revelations of more of Dutroux's victims created public outrage. Initially, Dutroux tried to mislead investigators by claiming to be a minion of a continent-wide paedophile ring that included prominent political figures in Belgium.

Dardenne and Delhez both testified against Dutroux during his 2004 trial, and their testimony played an important role in his subsequent conviction. They both also asked him why he did what he did to them.

Dardenne's account of her abduction and its aftermath are documented in her inspiring memoir J'avais douze ans, j'ai pris mon vélo et je suis partie à l'école (In English: "I was twelve years old, I took my bike and I left for school") and published in English as I Choose to Live, published following the trial, which became a number one bestseller both in the UK and Europe-wide.

[edit] Bibliography

• Dardenne, Sabine; Marie-Thérèse Cuny (2004). J'avais douze ans, j'ai pris mon vélo et je suis partie à l'école (in French). Paris: Oh. ISBN 2-915056-29-3. 
• Dardenne, Sabine; Marie-Thérèse Cuny (2005). I Choose to Live, trans. Penelope Dening, London: Virago. ISBN 1-84408-209-1.