Over 60,000 people protested across France on Monday, demanding justice and the resignation of Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, following the murder of 11-year-old Lyhanna. The alleged killer, 41-year-old Jérôme Barella, had been reported to police multiple times as a sex offender, but was never questioned by investigators.
The suspect had been accused of sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl, Rosa, and medical evidence confirmed the abuse. Despite this, Barella was not contacted by police in the nine months since the complaint was filed. Lyhanna’s body was found last Thursday at a farm in south-west France, where she was last seen six days earlier.
Child Murder Case
Barella, the father of a friend of Lyhanna, was taken into custody three days after her disappearance and has denied any involvement in her death. However, he admitted taking her in his car to a local swimming pool. The case has revealed “shocking and unacceptable failings” in the state services, according to Darmanin.
The suspect had been named in several other cases of alleged sexual abuse, which should have made the Rosa case a priority. Rosa’s mother is now filing a lawsuit against the state and Darmanin for their responsibilities in the affair. The justice system is under scrutiny, with magistrates and prosecutors refusing to be made scapegoats.
The Higher Magistrature Council said magistrates lacked the financial and manpower resources to do their work correctly. However, Darmanin argued that resources were not the problem in the Lyhanna affair, but rather the need to prioritize allegations of rape.
Government Response
Darmanin has told state prosecutors to review some 70,000 complaints of sexual abuse on minors that are still awaiting treatment. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has also promised to toughen a law on child protection, so that serial rapists face potential life terms in jail. The government’s response is being closely watched by the public, which is demanding action and accountability.
The case has sparked a national outcry, with many calling for greater protection for children and tougher laws against sex offenders. As France grapples with the aftermath of Lyhanna’s murder, the country is forced to confront its own failures in protecting its most vulnerable citizens, and the need for a more effective and responsive justice system.
