An investigation into harassment of a minor under the age of 15 was opened after the suicide on Saturday January 7 of a 13-year-old teenager in Golbey (Vosges), the Épinal prosecution announced on Thursday.
The relatives of Lucas, educated at the Louis-Armand college in Golbey, denounced in their hearings "
acts of harassment committed by students of his college, because of his homosexuality, for several months
", specified the public prosecutor. , Frédéric Nahon, in a press release.
A report to the National Education
The family had not filed a complaint, but “
the facts had been reported to the National Education, which had received the minors
”, added the magistrate.
The investigation was entrusted to the Epinal police station in order to "
establish the reality of the facts denounced and the causal link with the suicide
", added the prosecution.
Contacted by AFP, the family's lawyer, Me Catherine Faivre, indicated that she had not filed a complaint "
at this stage
": "
we will see in a second time.
The family wishes to bury their son in peace
,” the council added.
The rectorate of the Grand Est academic region and the Metz-Nancy academy expressed their "
emotion
", saying they were "
upset (s) by this dramatic event
" and sending their condolences to the relatives of the teenager.
A psychological cell was set up in the establishment on Monday, January 9 "
for students and teachers
" of the Louis-Armand college, also indicated the rectorate in a press release, recalling that the establishment was "
committed to the PHARE anti-harassment system
”.
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Lucas and his mother " reported
teasing at the start of the school year in September
" and the facts were "
immediately taken seriously by the college teams, who showed great vigilance on a daily basis, while maintaining the link with the student and his family
", according to the rectorate.
“
I am thinking of all students like him who are harassed: their desperation is the basis of my determination to prevent all forms of harassment
,” Education Minister Pap Ndiaye said in a tweet.
"
No child should find suicide as the ultimate outcome
," he said.
