Liana case: Murder of 11-year-old girl becomes major political issue in France
The murder of Liana, a 11-year-old schoolgirl found dead in the Gers, has triggered a political crisis in France, with the Minister of Justice publicly apologising for flaws in the judicial system.
Liana case: Murder of 11-year-old girl becomes major political issue in France
On 29 May, in the municipality of Fleurance, a small town of 6,200 inhabitants located in the Gers in France, an 11-year-old schoolgirl named Liana disappeared after leaving school. A few days later, on 4 June, her lifeless body was discovered, causing shockwaves throughout the country.
Investigators quickly identified a suspect: Jérôme Barela, a 41-year-old man. A witness had reported seeing the girl get into this man's vehicle after school. Through analysis of the town's surveillance images, police were able to identify the suspect quickly. On 1 June, Barela was brought before the courts, accused of abduction and unlawful detention of a minor under 15, before being remanded in custody.
What makes this case particularly disturbing is the suspect's criminal history. The man was already known to police, with nine judicial or police proceedings having been initiated against him. In 2021, he lost his job at a secondary school in the neighbouring municipality of Lectoure due to "inappropriate behaviour towards a female student". In 2022, a complaint of rape against a seven-year-old girl was filed against him. However, the case was closed in May 2024, the evidence gathered being deemed insufficient to establish the offence. In August 2025, he had been the subject of a fresh complaint for alleged rapes.
Facing public emotion and criticism from the opposition, France's Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, spoke on 5 June on the TF1 channel. In a rare gesture, he publicly apologised, acknowledging that there had been "serious failures in the follow-up of reports" concerning the suspect. President Emmanuel Macron also intervened, referring to "a dysfunction of the Justice system in this absolute tragedy" and refusing to accept arguments about lack of resources or staffing shortages as an excuse.
Prime Minister François Bayrou convened the relevant ministers and wishes to incorporate certain measures into a draft law in July, notably stricter sentences for acts of violence, a modification of limitation periods, and informing victims at all stages of judicial proceedings.
The case has prompted mass protests in several French cities. The left is calling for a complete overhaul of the child protection system through an "integral law". The far right, through Marine Le Pen, has demanded the resignation of the Minister of Justice, accusing him of leading justice to a situation of "overwhelm and suffocation".
Source: ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)