Ingride Jesus Van Der Kellen was sentenced to 30 years in prison, with a minimum of 15 years, for the deaths of her two young children in 2022. The court found her guilty of murder and violence against her partner. Struggling with her mental health, she expressed devastation and confusion over her actions. The children’s father felt relief from the verdict, while legal representatives noted the sentence’s severity compared to life imprisonment. Conflicting psychiatric evaluations were presented during the trial.
Sentencing of Ingride Jesus Van Der Kellen
Ingride Jesus Van Der Kellen received a 30-year prison sentence, with a 15-year minimum term, after being found guilty of the tragic deaths of her two young children in 2022. The ruling was made by the Assize Court of Meurthe-et-Moselle on Friday. The 37-year-old former researcher, who holds a doctorate in science, was initially facing the possibility of life imprisonment. She was convicted on charges of murdering minors under the age of 15 and inflicting violence upon her spouse. Upon hearing the verdict, she displayed no visible reaction.
The Emotional Aftermath
Throughout the trial, Ingride expressed her devastation, repeatedly stating her desire to end her life. She struggled to comprehend how she could have suffocated her children, who were just two and a half years and nine months old. Her mental health has been a concern, as she has made five suicide attempts since being incarcerated two years ago.
In her final remarks to the jury, she stated, “I don’t know why I committed such an act, I don’t understand, and I will never understand.” The jury’s sentence was notably less severe than the public prosecutor’s recommendation of life imprisonment with a 22-year safety period. The children’s father shared a sense of relief after the trial, noting that the verdict acknowledged the act as a form of revenge against him, which resonated with his feelings.
Following the verdict, the father expressed the emotional toll of the week and the challenge of moving forward. “It’s complicated; I have to rebuild everything, but it’s possible that I get back on my feet,” he said, reflecting on his journey ahead.
Me Guillaume Royer, representing the civil parties, remarked on the balance of the verdict, calling it an extremely heavy sentence that aligned with the case’s severity. Meanwhile, Me Sahra Amm, the defense attorney, pointed out that the sentence was more lenient than life imprisonment, highlighting the 15-year safety period as a significant factor. She noted that the trial had been exhausting and marked the conclusion of two and a half years of legal proceedings.
During the trial, psychiatric evaluations produced conflicting opinions regarding Ingride’s mental state at the time of the act. One psychiatrist argued that her discernment was impaired, while another contested this view. In her defense, Me Amm emphasized Ingride’s emotional turmoil, stating, “Since that day, she has been stuck in a mental pattern,” and stressing her desire for death following the tragic events.
The arrest of Ingride on February 15, 2022, occurred shortly after she had taken the lives of her children, whom she had picked up from daycare. Prior to the incident, she had attempted to harm her partner after he expressed intentions to leave due to her struggles with alcoholism. Throughout the trial, Ingride frequently broke down in tears and was unable to complete her questioning, requiring medical intervention to manage her distress.