Woman burnt alive in Mérignac: "We must review" the law, says the mayor of the town

TESTIMONY

It is a horror scene that took place on Tuesday in Mérignac, near Bordeaux.

A 31-year-old woman, mother of three, died there after being burned alive by her violent and recidivist ex-husband.

At around 6:10 p.m., in the middle of the street of this quiet suburban town, the 44-year-old man, already imprisoned for domestic violence in 2020, continued his ex-wife.

He fired several shots in her legs until she collapsed.

He then sprayed her with a flammable liquid while she was still alive and set her on fire, according to the Bordeaux prosecutor's office and the police who arrested him.

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"She knew she was in danger and yet no one could protect her"

"How is it that a man who was released from prison in December for identical facts about his wife was able, six months later, to reoffend and, this time, to the point of death?"

wonders the PS mayor of Mérignac, Alain Anziani, Thursday on Europe 1. "It is undoubtedly the law that must be reviewed and then the means" allocated to prevent feminicides, he continues.

"She knew she was in danger and yet no one was able to protect her. It's all the same, first of all, sadness," said the elected official, his throat tight.

"That a man is able to put his wife on the ground with rifle shots and once on the ground to burn her alive ... There is of course anger", comments Alain Anziani.

"The children of this neighborhood, today, they ask themselves the question 'Why us?'"

The elected official was obviously very touched by his exchange with children from the neighborhood where the events took place.

"They were asking a question: 'Why us?'

So the children of this neighborhood, today, they ask themselves the question 'Why us?' "He regrets.

"It is the responsibility of all of us. It is the responsibility of an entire society to ask today how we protect women and how we protect the most vulnerable in this society."