the family of a victim takes the State to court for gross negligence

Sandra, 31, was killed in Bordeaux on July 2, 2021 by her ex-partner who had been harassing her since their breakup, seven months earlier. Her relatives believe that the State did not protect her enough, even though the justice system and the police had been alerted numerous times. Sandra’s family is taking the State to court for gross negligence, according to information from France Inter on Tuesday March 12.

Between January and June 2021, Sandra tried to raise awareness about her situation on several occasions. A social investigation was launched in response to a first complaint of domestic violence. Another complaint for harassment was refused, in favor of a simple handrail. And a request for a protection order was also rejected by the family court judge.

Sandra “tried everything”

For Me Elsa Crozatier, the lawyer for the young woman’s family, “there was a clear dysfunction of the State”. She assures that Sandra “tried everything” while being “always very explicit in the seriousness of the facts”mentioning that her ex-spouse was being “more and more harassing”.

“I fear the worst outcome”, wrote Sandra on March 30 to the President of the Republic and the Public Prosecutor. But she received no response. She was killed three months later by her ex-partner who had just been placed under judicial supervision, without anyone warning her. Her mother says Sandra’s loved ones felt “abandoned”. If for his daughter he is “too late”she doesn’t want what Sandra experienced, “Other women are going through it. I can’t sit idly by”.

Sandra’s ex-spouse will be tried in December at the Assizes. Summoning the State for gross negligence is a procedure that remains rare in femicide cases. It often takes several years before it is successful.