The family of an 11-year-old French girl, identified only as Lyhanna, whose murder sparked nationwide protests, is calling for increased funding for the justice system. Their lawyer, François Roujou de Boubée, stated on Tuesday that the tragedy could have been prevented with more resources. He urged the government not to politicise the case or blame investigators.
Lyhanna disappeared on 29 May near Fleurance, a town in southwestern France. Her body was found a week later in a disused grain silo. The suspect, Jérôme Barella, a 41-year-old father of a classmate, has denied killing her. It emerged that Barella had been reported to police multiple times for alleged rapes of girls but had not been arrested.
Audrey, the mother of a 10-year-old who reported Barella for rape in August 2025, said she plans to sue the state and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin for failing to act. She claimed police told her to stop harassing them. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said call logs would be reviewed.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called a crisis meeting and announced new legislation on sexual abuse. Justice Minister Darmanin ordered a re-examination of 70,000 complaints of violence against children, but Lyhanna's family lawyer called this unrealistic given resource shortages.
Tens of thousands protested outside the justice ministry. Political leaders, including Marine Le Pen and Clémence Guetté, called for systemic reform. The family is visiting the UK to seek support and demand justice.
