• The family of Emmanuelle Badibanga, found dead in the Seychelles, promises "a legal continuation" after the acquittal of her companion, who was tried on the spot for murder.

  • A mirror investigation launched in France "still follows its course", indicates the Nice prosecutor's office.

The acquittal in the Seychelles of Thomas Debatisse, the street artist from Nice who was tried for the murder of his companion, found hanged in the bathroom of their hotel room, would not ultimately be the epilogue of this case?

This is what the family of Emmanuelle Badibanga wants to believe, who promises "a legal follow-up".

“A mirror survey launched in France is still open.

And we hope that things will bounce back here”, explains Magali Lonoh to

20 Minutes

, still convinced that her sister “did not commit suicide”.

" We cling.

We will continue,” she said.

While the graffiti artist known as Otom, who has always claimed his innocence, "is trying to find a little serenity" according to his lawyer, the Nice prosecutor's office confirms for its part that "the file is still following its course" and that it “is therefore not closed to date”.

The Nice public prosecutor's office awaiting new documents

Questioned by

20 Minutes

, the public prosecutor Xavier Bonhomme specifies that he is awaiting new documents "to be studied", before deciding on the follow-up to be given.

“We have just asked the Seychellois authorities for their entire file following the acquittal decision, as part of an international request for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters,” he said.

The prosecution had also asked to be able to go on site with an investigator from the Nice PJ.

An agreement was given, but only after the trial.

The field would therefore be free but, for the moment, no trip is yet planned.

The justice of Nice, whose conclusions of forensic medicine leaned towards the thesis of suicide, contrary to the expertise carried out in the Indian Ocean, would therefore need sufficiently new elements not to close the case.

Emmanuelle Badibanga's family says they have some.

“These are in particular testimonies and telephone extracts that we are still in the process of collecting with our lawyer and which could not be included in the procedure in the Seychelles”, assures Magali Lonoh.

She also evokes “the disputes” that may have broken out within the couple.

The suicide thesis is “simply not credible”

For her and the other members of the family, who are considering filing a civil action, the thesis of suicide is "simply not credible".

First there would be the “sparkling” and “full of joy” personality of this Azurean, found hanging from a towel hook on the evening of April 21, 2021. She also highlights “factual” elements.

“I was able to visit the room where Emmanuelle died, explains her sister.

And it is simply impossible for a 50-60 kg person to hang on a simple hook.

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“The trial lasted two and a half months and everyone welcomed the extremely detailed way in which the Supreme Court recalled all the facts, replies Thomas Debatisse's lawyer.

Magali Lonoh had herself praised the seriousness of the Seychellois jurisdiction.

It seems complicated to me to then protest against the decision that was made.

" Me Richard Sedillot recalls that his client was acquitted "by a very large majority, of six jurors out of eight" even though "everything was done on the spot to reach his conviction following an investigation carried out entirely charge ".

Returning to Nice at the time of the Easter weekend according to his advice, the graffiti artist known by the nickname Otom will need "some time to digest everything that has happened", also indicates Me Richard Sedillot at

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.

"We still locked up a man who was accused of having killed the woman he loves," he said.

He is with his family.

He tries to find some peace of mind.

“The family of his former companion, she is still determined” not to let go of anything “.

Justice

Otom case: Judged for the murder of his partner in the Seychelles, the Nice Thomas Debatisse acquitted

Justice

Otom case: Murder or suicide in the Seychelles?

A French justice report contradicts "the conclusions of the investigation"

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