Liana case: suspect's wife prepared to provide damning evidence
The wife of Jérôme Barella, the main suspect in the murder of young Liana in France, is preparing to hand over information to investigators that could undermine his defence.
Liana case: suspect's wife prepared to provide damning evidence
In the case of the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in France, a new development could shift the investigation. The wife of the main suspect, Jérôme Barella, has decided to cooperate with the authorities and hand over compromising information about her husband.
The wife of the 47-year-old man, currently held in provisional detention, is about to provide evidence describing her spouse's deviant behaviour from the beginning of their relationship until the fatal tragedy. These revelations risk undermining any defence strategy of the defendant.
At the same time, French society continues to express outrage at the media coverage of this case. Several news outlets have been accused of spreading false information, notably a photograph allegedly obtained from the morgue accompanied by misleading details about the state of the child's body. These rumours circulated even though forensic analyses had not yet been completed and the cause of death had not been established.
Serious dysfunctions have also been uncovered in the judicial system. A case file concerning "rape of a minor" involving Barella reportedly was transmitted by ordinary post between two courts, rather than being routed through the dedicated electronic platform for urgent matters. As a result, the file reached the competent magistrate only two months after it was sent.
Another case, dating from 2022, had been flagged for sexual assault against a 9-year-old girl, a friend of the suspect. This file had been closed in 2024 due to lack of evidence, but it was reopened following Liana's murder.
Despite the accumulation of charges, Barella continues to completely deny any involvement in the death of the little girl. He has already been placed under judicial supervision in another case.
Investigators and prosecutors are now pursuing four main leads: the suspect's exact whereabouts on the day of the disappearance, possible links with other cases of child abuse, potential involvement of accomplices, and institutional responsibility for the delays and omissions that marked this case.
Source: Athens Voice
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)