The mother found dead on Sunday in Carantec (Finistère) with her husband and two children had reported to the gendarmerie that she had received a
"slap"
on October 8, against the backdrop of the couple's difficult separation, the prosecution revealed on Monday.
The 38-year-old woman had presented herself to the gendarmerie on October 19, to indicate that she had been slapped by her husband ten days earlier, without filing a complaint, indicated the public prosecutor of Brest, Camille Miansoni , during a press briefing.
She had also announced that she was leaving the family home to
“settle with her parents”.
"Incomprehension"
“She considers (then) that it is not appropriate to take legal action on this, but she prefers to point it out”
, adds the prosecutor, adding that the defendant would
“probably”
have been heard in the coming days
“ if this tragedy had not intervened.
The mother of the family also indicated during her hearing that there had
“never been any physical violence”
during the 13 years of the couple's life together before this event.
Following a call from her mother, worried about not hearing from her, the bodies of the woman and her two daughters, aged 8 and 11, each in their room, were found by the gendarmerie on Sunday morning in their house, located in a hamlet a few kilometers from the town center.
Read alsoRurality and domestic violence, a silent scourge
The body of the 41-year-old father was discovered on the ground floor of the home, where he had hanged himself.
These discoveries have aroused the excitement of the locals in this small seaside town located in the bay of Morlaix, very popular with tourists and which has around 3,200 inhabitants year-round.
"It's a mix of a little misunderstanding and then horror,"
Michel Menotti, a 60-year-old shopkeeper, told AFP, describing a
"very shocking" crime.
The bodies of the victims, who showed no external injuries, were transported to the Brest forensic institute for autopsy.
Analyzes will be carried out to determine
“if there are traces of harmful substances which could have been administered”
to the mother and two little girls, the prosecutor said.
The results of the autopsies could be revealed on Friday, according to the prosecutor.