A Belgian woman who murdered her five children in a case that shocked the country has been euthanised at her own request, 16 years to the day after their killing, her lawyer has said.

Genevieve Lhermitte killed her son and four daughters aged three to 14 at the family home in the town of Nivelles on 28 February 2007, while their father was away.

She then tried to take her own life but the attempt failed and she ended up calling the emergency services.

Lhermitte was sentenced to life in prison in 2008, before being moved to a psychiatric hospital in 2019.

The 56-year-old’s lawyer Nicolas Cohen confirmed to AFP reports in local media that his client had died through euthanasia on the 16th anniversary of the killings on Tuesday.

Belgian law allows for people to chose to be euthanised if they are deemed to be suffering from “unbearable” psychological, and not just physical, suffering that cannot be healed.

The person must be conscious of their decision and be able to express their wish in a reasoned and consistent manner.