A man already convicted of murder has been charged, suspected of having killed a 16-year-old high school student with knives in January in Sallaumines (Pas-de-Calais), the prosecutor of Bethune announced Monday, June 8.
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On January 30, after leaving her school, Laura Bernard had been " violently attacked " in a park with knives. " The autopsy of the young girl revealed that she had been the victim of several stab wounds, some of which were carried at the level of the neck, " said the prosecutor, Thierry Dran, during a press conference. It was a witness who witnessed “ the start of the attack ” who alerted the police. Arrived quickly on the scene, the rescue " could not resuscitate " the victim " died on the spot as a result of his injuries ". "The police heard the witness who gave a description of the attacker but who was unable to formally recognize the perpetrator , "said Mr. Dran.
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On February 23, " following the arrest by the Lens police of Ferdinand A., 35, in another case ", notably for domestic violence, " a member of his entourage " l designated " as the author of the murder of Laura Bernard ". " Two people in his family circle " also related " having seen him return one evening covered in blood " and " having heard him say, in his own words, that he had '' planted a young girl around the neck '' "
" The telephone investigations established that the telephone used by Ferdinand A. had been active in the commune of Sallaumines on the day of the facts " and " it was found at the crime scene, not far from the body of Laura Bernard, his pair of glasses "on which" traces of the suspect's DNA were found ". The man was placed in police custody on June 3 and facing the police, he " denied and disputed any involvement in the murder of Laura Bernard " then " refused to explain himself ".
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He was presented to the investigating judge on June 5 and was “ charged with the count of murder for legal recidivism ” because “ he was already sentenced by the Pas-de-Calais assize court in 2007 to fifteen years' imprisonment for murder preceded by another crime ”. He was released from prison eight months before the incident.