On March 17, 2025, a court in Nancy ruled on the case of Khairadine M., who severely abused his six-year-old son, Maël, by abandoning him in a forest as punishment. The child suffered grave injuries after being dragged while trying to cling to the car. The mother revealed Maël’s ongoing trauma and anxiety related to his father, while the prosecution sought a three-year prison sentence and the revocation of parental rights. The defense argued Khairadine’s intentions were misunderstood.
Shocking Case of Child Abuse in Nancy
On March 17, 2025, the correctional court in Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, delivered a verdict in the troubling case of Khairadine M., a 44-year-old accused of inflicting violence on his minor son, Maël, who was just six years old at the time. The incident, which took place on Halloween night in 2024, left a profound impact on the community, as reported by Le Parisien. Allegedly, Khairadine abandoned his son in a forest as a form of punishment, leading to a terrifying ordeal where the child was dragged for approximately a hundred meters while clinging to the car. The aftermath left Maël with severe injuries and lasting emotional scars.
A Disturbing Incident Unfolds
The investigation revealed that Khairadine M. was dissatisfied with his son’s behavior at daycare. In a misguided attempt to discipline him, he first sought the intervention of local gendarmes but, feeling his efforts were in vain, decided to take drastic measures. He drove Maël deep into the forest, where he allegedly threatened the boy with abandonment, saying, “I’m going to leave you in a cemetery full of monsters and zombies.”
According to reports, when ordered to exit the vehicle, Maël was so frightened that he refused to let go of the door, resulting in a horrifying situation where the car was driven off with him hanging on. The resulting injuries were severe, including skull wounds, facial bruises, a deep heel injury, and multiple contusions. Medical staff at the CHU of Brabois, alarmed by the extent of the injuries, notified the authorities. Maël required three weeks of hospitalization and was discharged in a wheelchair.
During the court proceedings, Khairadine M. attempted to downplay his actions, claiming he had accidentally found himself on that path and was unaware that his son was still attached to the vehicle. However, the evidence presented contradicted his narrative. The presiding judge, Marc Hechler, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “You refuse to face the facts. That night, your son could have been killed, thrown against a tree!”
Maël continues to suffer from trauma linked to this incident and has revealed that he has experienced other forms of abuse in the past, such as physical punishment and humiliation. His mother, who has been separated from Khairadine since her pregnancy, shared that her son is plagued by anxiety at the thought of encountering his father again. The public prosecutor has asked for a three-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, in addition to revoking Khairadine’s parental rights. Deputy prosecutor Natacha Collot firmly stated, “When one commits such acts, one is not a father!”
Meanwhile, the defense has urged the court not to view Khairadine as excessively monstrous, suggesting that his original intentions were not to harm his son. The final ruling is expected on May 12. In the interim, Maël continues to experience nightmares and finds solace in sleeping beside his mother each night.