Two minors murder 11-year-old boy in Rennes over fishing bait
Two teenagers have admitted to strangling an 11-year-old boy near the Vilaine river in Rennes, claiming they wanted to avenge the alleged theft of fishing equipment worth a few dozen euros.
Two minors murder 11-year-old boy in Rennes over fishing bait
A 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl were taken into custody in Rennes, in western France, after admitting to strangling an 11-year-old boy in a wooded area on the bank of the Vilaine river.
The lifeless body of Théo, 11, was discovered on Sunday afternoon by police officers alerted by a couple of residents who had heard children's screams. The young boy lay unconscious with a length of string pulled tightly around his neck. An autopsy confirmed that death resulted from strangulation.
According to the public prosecutor of Rennes, Frédéric Teillet, the two suspects were spotted shortly afterwards fleeing the area on foot. Eyewitnesses saw them running. During searches of their homes, law enforcement officers recovered the victim's fishing equipment.
When questioned, the two minors admitted to assaulting and strangling the child. Their motive, according to their statements: to avenge the alleged theft of fishing bait and accessories estimated at a few dozen euros. However, Théo had told his parents that this equipment had been given to him by the 16-year-old boy.
The two suspects remain in detention and should be presented to a judge, who could formally charge them with voluntary homicide of a minor. Their statements contain contradictions, and investigators are continuing their work to establish precisely the circumstances of the crime.
The three children had arranged to meet the evening before to fish at the same location and had agreed to meet again the following day. The case has provoked considerable shock in French public opinion, both because of the brutality of the crime and because of the age of those involved.
Source: Phileleftheros
Source: Philenews