Murder of 71-year-old woman in Saint-Sébastien-de-Morsent: 23-year-old man put on trial
A 23-year-old man has been put on trial and remanded in custody for the murder of a woman in her seventies in Normandy. He allegedly attempted to conceal the crime by setting fire to the house.
Arson crime in Eure: suspect remanded in custody for murder and possible sexual assault
A 23-year-old man has been put on trial and remanded in provisional detention for the murder of a 71-year-old woman at her home in Saint-Sébastien-de-Morsent, in Eure, according to reports from Google News FR — Crime (fr). The suspect allegedly attempted to conceal his crime by setting fire to the property.
Emergency services were alerted on 20 August to a fire in the commune. Upon their arrival, neighbours had already removed the woman from the building; she was found unconscious in her dining room. The victim presented with "bruising, swelling and blood on her face", and a scarf was tied around her neck, the prosecutor of the Republic of Évreux specified on Friday. She died in hospital several hours after emergency services intervened.
Autopsy results established that death resulted from head trauma "resulting from multiple falls or blows". Forensic doctors also noted in the victim "the presence of genital lesions" raising concerns about possible "sexual assault", according to the magistrate.
Residents had reported to gendarmes the presence of a suspicious individual in the street, coming and going, knocking on several doors and observing the surrounding gardens. This man had notably been seen conversing with the victim less than an hour before the fire started.
The suspect was quickly identified: he is a 23-year-old man residing in the commune, already sentenced on several occasions for theft, violence and sexual assault.
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Source: Google News FR — Crime (fr)