Lyhanna case: rape confirmed by autopsy, suspect's DNA traces found on victim
The post-mortem examination of the 11-year-old schoolgirl, who died in the Gers, confirms sexual assault. Genetic material linked to Jérôme Barella has been identified.
Lyhanna case: rape confirmed by autopsy, suspect's DNA traces found on victim
The forensic medical examination conducted on Lyhanna, an 11-year-old schoolgirl whose body was found in the Gers, has established that the minor was raped before her death. Biological analyses furthermore made it possible to discover on the child's body genetic markers corresponding to Jérôme Barella, the man currently under indictment in this case.
This revelation was communicated to franceinfo by persons informed of the investigation, corroborating previous leaks that appeared in other media outlets.
The lifeless body of the young girl had been discovered on 4 June in a disused agricultural structure in Puycasquier, a locality situated in the Gers department. Upon discovery, evidence suggested that the child had been bound and silenced by a gag.
Jérôme Barella, forty-one years old and a family man, is being prosecuted for abduction and unlawful detention of a minor under fifteen years of age. He had already been the subject of previous reports for sexual offences involving children. Since his indictment, other alleged victims have filed complaints against him.
The precise circumstances of death remain undetermined at this stage. This case has prompted strong mobilisation and numerous questions about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in preventing harm to minors. Parliamentarians and child rights organisations are demanding stricter legislative reform.
The family's legal representative, François Roujou de Boubée, issued a statement indicating that Lyhanna's relatives felt immense anger and disgust. He asked the media to respect their privacy and announced that no further public statements were planned.
The investigations are continuing under the authority of the competent prosecutor's office.
Source: Google News LU FR