▲ French police guard a farm near Fleurance in southwestern France on June 5 (local time), where the body of missing 11-year-old Lyhanna was found.
Public anger is mounting in France over the judicial authorities' poor response after a man who was under investigation for child sex crimes was accused of murdering an 11-year-old girl.
According to French media, including the daily Le Monde, on June 9 (local time), 11-year-old Lyhanna went missing on May 29 near Fleurance in southwestern France.
Despite an extensive search by her family and police, Lyhanna was ultimately found dead on June 4 at a farm about 10 kilometers away from Fleurance.
The prime suspect is 41-year-old Jérôme Barella, the father of one of Lyhanna's friends.
He admitted to driving Lyhanna to a nearby swimming pool in his car but has denied the allegations, claiming he had nothing to do with the girl's death.
He has reportedly refused to answer all questions during subsequent questioning by the investigating judge.
Following Barella's arrest, public outrage spread across French society as his past record came to light.
In August last year, the parents of a 10-year-old girl filed a complaint with the police, alleging that their daughter had been sexually assaulted by Barella multiple times.
Although medical examinations confirmed evidence of sexual abuse, it was revealed that investigative authorities did not question Barella even once during the nine months following the report.
Consequently, the French public is strongly holding the judicial authorities accountable, arguing that Lyhanna's death could have been prevented if the investigative agencies had properly investigated the case at the time.
Calls for the resignation of Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin have also continued.
Minister Darmanin admitted that the case exposed a "shocking and unacceptable failure of state institutions," but dismissed the possibility of his resignation.
During a Senate hearing that day, he said, "The problem in this case is not a lack of resources. It is not a lack of new laws, more budget, or better IT systems," adding, "It is the failure to prioritize rape cases."
In connection with this, Darmanin previously stated that he had ordered prosecutors to conduct a comprehensive review of approximately 70,000 pending complaints of sex crimes against minors.
However, the lawyer representing Lyhanna's parents pointed out that "the resources allocated to the judiciary and their efficiency" are "at the heart of the problem." The lawyer noted, "I have seen police officers, judges, and court clerks crushed under piles of paperwork they have to process. I have also seen them struggling to get Post-it notes or a stack of paper. This is the reality."
The lawyer also criticized, "Saying they will review 70,000 complaints is just empty words," adding, "It is impossible unless they do their jobs properly."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.