Murder of Lyhanna, 11, sparks 60,000-strong protests in France over police and judicial failures
The murder of an 11-year-old girl in south-western France has prompted massive protests. The main suspect had been the subject of multiple reports of sexual assault on minors since 2017, yet authorities took no action.
Murder of Lyhanna, 11, sparks 60,000-strong protests in France over police and judicial failures
The body of Lyhanna, 11, was discovered last Thursday on a farm near the village of Fleurance in south-western France. Jérôme Barella, the father of one of the victim's friends, is under investigation for the murder. The man disputes the homicide charge but admits to having driven the child to an open-air swimming pool on the day of her disappearance.
This tragedy has triggered national outrage because Barella had been known to police for years. From 2017 onwards, several complaints and reports had been filed against him for harassment and sexual rape of minors. Despite these repeated warnings, law enforcement had never brought him in for questioning.
On Monday, more than 60,000 people marched across France demanding action against sexual violence targeting women and children, according to information from BBC and Franceinfo relayed by Iltalehti.
The mother of Rosa, a 10-year-old girl, has filed a complaint against the State and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin. In August of last year, she had already alerted police that Barella had sexually assaulted her daughter on multiple occasions.
Darmanin has acknowledged systemic failings. According to him, lack of resources is not the main problem: rather it is the failure to prioritise sexual violence within the judicial system that hampers action. He has urged prosecutors to review approximately 70,000 cases of sexual violence against minors currently pending processing.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced on Tuesday that harsher sentences would henceforth be imposed against serial rapists.
Source: Iltalehti
Source: Iltalehti