Thousands of mourners have gathered for a silent march honoring an 11-year-old French schoolgirl whose murder has ignited widespread outrage after it was revealed that police failed to question the suspected killer about previous child sexual abuse allegations.
Silent March Led by Parents
The parents of the girl, identified only as Lyhanna, led the cortege on Sunday in the southwestern village of Fleurance behind a banner reading "Never again." Most participants, including children, wore white shirts or T-shirts, many featuring a smiling portrait of the young victim.
Grief Mixed with Anger
The community's grief is intertwined with profound shock and anger. The killing has sparked a heated national debate over delays and failures in France's justice system, as the man held in connection with Lyhanna's disappearance and murder had been on police radar since 2017.
French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged an "unacceptable" failure in the legal system. "We cannot ignore that flaws have been exposed," he said during a visit to Montenegro. "It is not a question of resources but responsibilities that will need to be determined through an official investigation."
Details of the Case
Lyhanna was last seen getting into a grey car belonging to Jérôme Barella, a father of two and school cleaner, in Fleurance on May 29. Her body was found seven days later in a disused grain silo 15 kilometers away. Barella has denied killing her, claiming he dropped her off at the local swimming pool.
After his arrest, it emerged that in August, the mother of a 10-year-old girl had reported that Barella raped her daughter multiple times. The preliminary investigation, including interviews, medical reports confirming injuries consistent with abuse, and prior accusations, was sent to the prosecutor's office in January with instructions to question him. However, the office reportedly failed to open the file for weeks, then took six more weeks to assign officers. Barella had not been contacted in the three months before Lyhanna's abduction.
Additional Allegations
Other allegations have surfaced. In December 2017, a mother reported her 17-year-old daughter had a relationship with Barella, but the case was dropped in 2018 after the girl said she consented. In 2021, Barella was fired from a cleaning job at another school for alleged inappropriate behavior with a female student online. In January 2022, he was accused of raping a seven-year-old child; the case was dismissed in 2024 due to lack of evidence. Another rape accusation was lodged last week and is now part of the investigation.
Justice System Under Fire
France's Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said there is a backlog of 3 million police complaints, including 70,000 for rape or sexual assault. He called the breakdown "terrifying" and said, "We failed to follow up on complaints. I will take full responsibility. I am furious." Darmanin added he will meet with prosecutors individually and will not take holiday until the situation is addressed.
Fleurance Mayor Gregory Bobbato told Agence France-Presse, "Today, we are an angry town, an angry region, an angry country." He said Lyhanna's death is "the latest act in a tragedy unfolding for far too long" and that "never again should children be prey for predators who roam with impunity."
