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Lucas' suicide: was the child bullied by four middle school students? Justice decides this Monday

2023-06-05T06:12:00.406Z

Highlights: The juvenile court of Épinal rules this Monday on the possible guilt of four college students prosecuted for school bullying resulting in the suicide of Lucas, 13. The penalty for school harassment committed by a minor can be up to 18 months in prison, but it is increased to five years if these facts have led to suicide. At the hearing, which was held behind closed doors on 3 April, the prosecutor's office did not seek recognition of harassment as a cause of suicide, contradicting its own findings at the end of the investigation.


Lucas, 13, killed himself last January. His relatives had denounced acts of harassment, mockery and insults to the bus


The juvenile court of Épinal rules this Monday on the possible guilt of four college students of Golbey (Vosges) prosecuted for school bullying resulting in the suicide of Lucas, 13 years old. This tragedy had caused a national stir in January.

At the hearing, which was held behind closed doors on 3 April, the prosecutor's office did not seek recognition of harassment as a cause of suicide, contradicting its own findings at the end of the investigation. "In view of the analysis of the file and what was said at the hearing, there remained a doubt about the causality" between the harassment and the desperate gesture of Lucas, said the prosecutor of Épinal, Frédéric Nahon.

Up to five years incurred

The qualification chosen by the judges could have important consequences on the possible sanctions imposed: the penalty for school harassment committed by a minor can be up to 18 months in prison, but it is increased to five years if these facts have led to suicide.

If the students are found guilty, their sentences will only be pronounced in a second step, after a period of "probation", in accordance with the new Code of Criminal Justice for Minors in force since September 2021.

The period used for the acts of harassment could also have an impact on the final decision of the judges: for some of the harassment facts in the file, some of the defendants were not yet 13 years old. However, the law establishes a presumption of non-discernment according to which, under the age of 13, a minor is presumed not to be able to understand the consequences of his actions and therefore cannot be convicted of an offence.

The lawyers of the four students, two girls and two boys, did not enter into these considerations. At the hearing, they had considered the offence "unconstituted" and had all pleaded for acquittal.

"The fight against bullying must remain a priority"

Lucas, 13, committed suicide on January 7, after writing a note expressing his desire to end his life. "The findings and the autopsy carried out by the forensic institute of Nancy made it possible to establish the thesis of a suicide by hanging," said the prosecutor Frédéric Nahon.

The relatives of the teenager had denounced acts of harassment, revealing the mockery and insults of a homophobic nature of which he had said he was victim from other students of his school. This suicide had aroused strong emotion. In Épinal in early February, several hundred people had participated in a white march in memory of the young boy.

" READ ALSO "Nothing will stop them": the chilling letter of Lindsay harassed a few months before her suicide

"When a child ends his life, there are no words to express emotion, sorrow, pain," National Education Minister Pap Ndiaye told the Senate. This tragedy shows the extent to which the fight against bullying must remain a priority for the government. »

At the end of May, four other minors were indicted for "school bullying leading to suicide" after a 13-year-old girl, Lindsay, committed suicide on May 12 in Vendin-le-Vieil (Pas-de-Calais).

Source: leparis

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