France orders justice inquiry as political fallout deepens over child murder case

The French government has ordered a comprehensive report into the justice system’s handling of the Lyhanna case within 15 days, following intense public outrage and political condemnation. The directive comes after officials released details regarding the criminal record of Jérome B., a 41-year-old man currently in custody for the murder of 11-year-old Lyhanna. The revelations have exposed significant procedural failures, including a nine-month delay in questioning the suspect despite medical evidence substantiating a rape complaint made by a 10-year-old girl.

Lyhanna disappeared from school in the Gers area of south-west France a week ago, with her body subsequently discovered on farmland near Fleurance on Thursday. Jérome B., who is the father of a friend of the victim, has been held since Monday. Two witnesses reported seeing Lyhanna in his car on the afternoon of her disappearance, leading to his arrest and the subsequent release of his police record, which detailed his involvement in four separate cases involving young girls.

The most contentious aspect of the suspect’s history involves a complaint lodged last August by the mother of a 10-year-old girl named Rosa. Rosa alleged she had been raped by Jérome B. on several occasions, and a medical examination substantiated these claims. Despite this evidence, investigators did not question Jérome B. for nine months. The delay was exacerbated by the case being transferred between jurisdictions, highlighting what critics describe as the legendary slowness of the French justice system. Two other cases involving the suspect were closed for lack of evidence, while he was previously dismissed from his job as a maintenance worker at a secondary school for inappropriate behaviour towards a teenager.

Public anger has been fuelled by the perception that authorities prioritised procedure over removing a potential threat from the community. With presidential elections less than a year away, the incident has become a focal point for political debate regarding under-investment and systemic dysfunction. President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the failings, stating it was unacceptable that the family could not be assured the case had been properly handled. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin expressed being terrified by the events, questioning why a man with such obvious suspicions was not kept away from youngsters despite months of complaints.

Opposition leaders have seized on the tragedy to criticise the current administration’s approach to security and justice. Jordan Bardella of the National Rally declared that the tragedy could have been avoided if the justice system were not so dysfunctional, calling for a reckoning. Bruno Retailleau of Les Républicains argued that the system is a failure requiring total reform, while Marine Tondelier of the Ecologists described the affair as a symbol of a politico-judicial system incapable of handling sexist and sexual violence. The prime minister’s demand for a swift report underscores the urgency with which the government is attempting to address these institutional gaps.