An inmate from the Luynes penitentiary center (Bouches-du-Rhône) was killed in the night from Saturday to Sunday in his cell, by his fellow inmate, the prosecution announced to AFP, confirming information from the daily La Provence.
An investigation has been opened for “assassination”, which therefore implies premeditation, the public prosecutor of Aix-en-Provence, Jean-Luc Blachon, told AFP, stressing that this case will be transferred to judicial investigation on Monday. , also for “assassination”, therefore requiring referral to an investigating judge.
“A rain of blows”
The victim, aged 23, was serving a two-year sentence for drug trafficking and was due for release in 15 days.
The young man was convicted by the Marseille criminal court.
According to the first elements of the investigation, he died following “a rain of blows” causing head trauma, the Aix prosecutor told AFP.
When the supervisors were alerted to the facts, around 2 a.m. on Sunday, the victim was inert on the ground.
The attacker, also 23 years old, was serving a seven-year sentence, also for drug trafficking and aggravated violence.
He was eligible for release in 2028. He was convicted by the Aix-en-Provence criminal court.
He is currently in police custody before his presentation before a liberty and detention judge.
The judicial authorities warned at the beginning of February of overcrowding at the Aix-Luynes detention center (Bouches-du-Rhône), one of the largest in France.
“Prison overcrowding has multiple consequences” and “this prison reality impacts the jurisdiction,” insisted Christine Peyrache, first vice-president of the Aix-en-Provence judicial court during the formal back-to-school hearing.