her ex-partner Jérôme Tonneau sentenced to thirty years in prison

The 58-year-old former entrepreneur had monitored, harassed and threatened the victim and her family for months following their breakup. He eventually kidnapped and killed her on May 27, 2019.

The Assize Court of the North sentenced Jérôme Tonneau on Friday, July 5, to thirty years of criminal imprisonment, with a twenty-year security period, for the kidnapping and murder of his ex-partner, Nathalie Debaillie, in 2019 in Lille. The 58-year-old former entrepreneur had watched, harassed and threatened the victim and her family for months following their breakup.

His threat of “put it in the trunk of [sa] car”, had been carried out on May 27, 2019. That day, Nathalie Debaillie was violently abducted by Jérôme Tonneau and three Romanian men, hired for the occasion, in the parking lot of her work. She was found dead, tied up and with her throat cut at Jérôme Tonneau’s home, a few hours later.

Isabelle Stayer and Carine Delaby-Faure, lawyers for the family, welcomed “a balanced judgment (…) and understood by the family”evoking a “feeling of relief” linked to the security period. Jean-Philippe Broyart, lawyer for the main defendant, considered the judgment “fair”considering that his client does not present “The profile of a hardened criminal”His lawyers said they would not appeal.

Among the three accomplices, Emanuel Dobrea, whose guilt is considered “one degree above”, for his role in recruiting and coordinating the team, was sentenced to twenty years with a ten-year security period.

The latter was also a friend of the victim, whom he nicknamed “Mom”and his children. Two “henchmen” of the operation are sentenced to sixteen years of imprisonment, with a security period of eight years. These accomplices are also permanently banned from French territory.

All three expressed regret in their final statements. “I deserve to be here (…), I betrayed a family that truly loved me and I will regret it all my life”said Emanuel Dobrea, in tears. Jérôme Tonneau, laconic, declared: “I would like to ask F. and R. for forgiveness. [les enfants de la victime], and to their entire family.”

The case does not end there: in January 2024, the victim’s family’s lawyer, Isabelle Steyer, filed a complaint against the State for failure to protect. Nathalie Debaillie had gone to the police station several times to report harassment and threats. Three reports had been filed as well as a complaint, which was not forwarded to the public prosecutor’s office. Jérôme Tonneau had not been heard. A hearing is scheduled in Paris on December 9.