A10 Trial: Halima El Bakhti Faces Psychiatric Assessments at Blois
The trial of Halima El Bakhti, accused of the murder of the unknown child found on the A10 in 1987, has begun at the Blois criminal court. Psychiatric assessments shed new light on the accused's family history.
The Trial of the Unknown Child of the A10
The mutilated body of a child discovered in 1987 on the side of the A10 motorway in Loir-et-Cher haunted investigators for nearly four decades. According to Le Figaro, this child was never claimed by anyone. In 2023, the case resurfaced after Halima El Bakhti, 72, was identified as a suspect. The trial opened on 2 November before the criminal court at Blois.
Inass Touloub was only 4 years old when her tortured body was abandoned by her parents. The mystery surrounding her identity for decades marked several generations of gendarmes and magistrates, each viewing it as a personal case to resolve.
The Psychiatric Assessments in Question
Daniel Zagury, a psychiatrist since 1987, was sought as a private expert by the accused's solicitor, Me Camille Radot. Author of assessments on high-profile criminals such as Michel Fourniret and Salah Abdeslam, Zagury stated that "this is a completely exceptional case that has stirred my desire to understand".
During his hearing at Blois on Tuesday, Zagury emphasised the distinction between clarifying and excusing. "Clarifying is not excusing; we are sometimes perceived as a sort of excusers who normalise horror. This is obviously absurd," he recalled. The psychiatrist stressed the importance of understanding the psychological complexity of the accused, despite the intolerable nature of the facts alleged against her.
The Accused and the Stakes of the Trial
Halima El Bakhti, who remains largely prostrate during hearings, long remained an enigmatic figure. Although Zagury was not mandated by the examining judge initially, official experts are gradually aligning themselves behind his conclusions regarding the accused's criminal responsibility at the time of the alleged facts. The psychiatric assessments and testimony presented to the criminal court aim to shed light on the family and psychological context that may have led to the crime.
Source: Le Figaro