Lyhanna case: Head of gendarmerie acknowledges gaps in investigation
General Hubert Bonneau admitted errors in the handling of the case against Jérôme Barella, the main suspect in the murder of young Lyhanna in the Gers.
Lyhanna case: Head of gendarmerie acknowledges gaps in investigation
General Hubert Bonneau, director of the national gendarmerie, acknowledged on Wednesday 10 June a malfunction in the management of the case concerning Jérôme Barella, suspected of killing young Lyhanna in the Gers.
Indignation remains strong in Fleurance, the commune where the child lived. A resident expressed boundless anger: "It is too immense. No words are sufficient. One cannot excuse this." This anger stems from the delays accumulated by investigative services regarding the suspected murderer. Another resident protested: "Since last year, since 2018, they knew that things were happening. It is tragic to have reached this point."
In August 2025, a mother filed a rape complaint against Jérôme Barella for his actions against her daughter. She is now taking action against the state for gross negligence. A man believes this action is justified: "If everything had functioned correctly and if this woman's complaint and her lawyer's had been taken seriously, Lyhanna would probably still be alive. Suing justice, the state, the gendarmerie seems normal to me."
On Wednesday morning, General Bonneau publicly acknowledged this failure. "When a perpetrator is identified and a victim is established, we are faced with an emergency. It is not a question of resources. It is a question of swift handling of a case," he stated.
Neither these apologies nor political announcements ease the suffering. Lyhanna's grandparents organised a new white march 300 kilometres from Fleurance. Her aunt, Pricillia Bernard, paid her an emotional tribute: "Lyhanna, you will remain forever in our thoughts and our hearts. We love you deeply and will never forget you." The child's funeral is scheduled for Friday at Fleurance cemetery.
Source: franceinfo
Source: France Info