A pest control worker in northern France has claimed he mistook his wife for a rat after shooting her in the head during a job at a refrigerated warehouse in Bondoufle. Emergency services responded to reports that a woman had been hit by a bullet, and the 54-year-old victim was found with a serious head injury and taken to hospital.
Her condition deteriorated soon after she arrived at the hospital. A man who identified himself as the woman's husband was arrested by police at the scene and claimed to have shot her while on the job.
Claim of Mistaken Identity
French daily Le Parisien reports a source close to the police investigation as saying: "He claims he mistook her for a rodent." Local media described both as professional pest controllers who were eliminating rats at a food storage facility.
The couple were using air rifles or shotguns to kill the rodents, firing lead pellets, according to reports. The man reportedly claims to have pulled the trigger on hearing a noise in the dark, mistakenly shooting his wife.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Media reports in France say the pellet hit the woman between the eyes, causing serious injuries. Police are investigating an attempted homicide, and the man is due to appear in court on Monday (October 26).
