Montpellier: a nurse expelled from her home, opening of an investigation

After exhausting days at work, Mélina, a nurse anesthetist at the Montpellier University Hospital (Hérault) thought she could rest in peace at home. But this 37-year-old mother would have been forced to leave the accommodation she occupied with her companion, under pressure from her owners fearing to be contaminated by Covid-19, according to La Gazette de Montpellier.

A preliminary investigation was opened on Thursday by the public prosecutor Fabrice Belargent, "in order to establish whether the conditions under which this person was forced to leave his home were likely to receive one or more criminal qualifications", also reports the local newspaper.

Water and electricity cut

The previous days, Mélina, who takes care of people infected with the virus at the hospital, had decided to confine herself to protect her family. Her mother, daughter, granddaughter and companion then stayed in the house she originally occupied with her husband located in Montarnaud, about fifteen kilometers from Montpellier. For her part, she settles alone in her daughter's apartment near the Montpellier University Hospital.

Mélina then warns her owners who do not seem to object to the family moving into the house. They will change their mind two days later. Living on the floor above, they complain to the mother, explaining that she does not want "strangers" at home. The atmosphere then deteriorates very quickly. “They cut off the hot water and the heat to force us to leave. It was untenable. We had to leave, ”she explains to the local newspaper.

"We don't care if you catch the virus"

"They told me: we don't care if you catch the virus and die with it." As long as you don't die with us, ”adds the mother. Contacted by the newspaper, the tenants explain that “these people did not have to come to our house. The lease was for two people ”… And they denounce the presence of the grandmother“ who was in an establishment for the elderly, 5…) places at risk ”.

Tired by this situation, the family finally leaves on March 31. Her mother was placed in a retirement home and her companion returned to live with her parents. Her daughter and granddaughter now live in the first's apartment in Montpellier while Mélina would benefit from free accommodation that she found on Airbnb. The nurse was put in contact with the association France Victims 34 who was responsible for carrying out an assessment of her situation, according to the Montpellier Gazette.

Contacted by La Provence, Minister of Housing Julien Denormandie was quick to react to the eviction of this family, stressing that the "owners have outlawed". Because evictions of tenants are effectively prohibited until May 31. "What these people have done is despicable. It shows the darkest part of the crisis for people, ”he added.