A woman sentenced in November 2020 to 10 years in prison for intentional homicide, after fatally shooting her violent spouse in 2016, will not be released until her appeal trial, according to a decision rendered on Wednesday February 24 at Rouen.
Read also: In Arras, a pioneer home to avoid the recidivism of perpetrators of domestic violence
The investigating chamber of the Rouen Court of Appeal refused the request for the release of Alexandra Richard, 42, pending her appeal trial, the attorney general told a correspondent from AFP.
According to the lawyer of the condemned, Me Nathalie Tomasini, the magistrates justified their decision by relying on the notion of "disturbance to public order" given the media coverage of the case.
She plans to appeal.
On October 16, 2016, Alexandra Richard shot her 36-year-old husband with a hunting rifle at their home in Montreuil-en-Caux (Seine-Maritime), when the latter, alcoholic, had just risen from his chair by threatening to "
kick his ass
".
This mother of three children, including one with the victim, was convicted of the murder of her husband.
"
Yes, he was a violent man, but you cannot respond to violence with violence,
" said the lawyer general during the trial.
She had asked for a requalification in "
voluntary violence having resulted in death without intention of giving it
".
To read also: "I just wanted it to stop": Jacqueline Sauvage tells her story
“
It was a deterrent weapon.
I wanted (...) to run away with my children,
”the accused, with a clean criminal record, had admitted to having loaded the weapon.
"
That he died, that's not what I wanted,
" had assured Alexandra Richard, in a relationship for about two years with this man, sentenced in 1999 for having shot a rival in love.
"
There was at least a doubt as to the intention to kill,
" said Mr. Tomasini, who had pleaded "
accidental shooting
".