Fugitive Dutch murder convict caught in Spain

A fugitive Dutch man was arrested in Spain on Wednesday. 71-year-old Leonardus 'Lei' B. was sentenced to life in prison by a Belgian court earlier this month for the murder of his ex-wife ten years ago, RTL Nieuws reports.

In December 2009 B. shot and killed his ex-wife Josee Widdershoven in Vucht out of frustration about their divorce. He then fled. After managing to avoid the authorities for years, the Sittard-born man was finally arrested in Calpe, Spain on Wednesday.

On May 6th, a Belgian court convicted B. in absentia of premeditated murder and sentenced him to life in prison. The court called the Josee's murder an "execution" in the verdict. "The convict effectively carried out his years-long threats. Josee was robbed of life in an extremely brutal, horrible and cowardly way. She had not chance against the violence used", the verdict read, according to RTL.

Belgium will ask Spain to extradite B.