“These requisitions take into account the distress of the victims”, commented Maître Emmanuel Spano, lawyer for several civil parties, during a suspension of the hearing.

A twenty-year prison sentence, accompanied by a two-thirds security sentence, was required Thursday during the trial of Jean-Christophe Karcher, tried before the Bas-Rhin Assize Court for 34 sexual assaults of young girls. and three rapes.

Started on October 3, the trial of the "Niederroedern shark" is being held behind closed doors at the request of the civil parties.

Aged 50, the defendant, former first deputy mayor of a village of 1,000 inhabitants in northern Alsace, college professor and scout camp leader, had only recognized the touching during the investigation.

He eventually admitted to the digital rapes in front of jurors and most of the victims present at the hearings, according to several lawyers.

The "shark" game

The victims, mostly friends of the accused's two daughters, themselves assaulted, were invited to the family pool where Jean-Christophe Karcher imposed the "shark game" on them.

It consisted of grabbing the girls, often by their private parts or under their bathing suits.

This was followed by bathing, drying and massages that the children, naked, had to promise to keep secret.

Other assaults allegedly took place during scout camps in which the accused participated.

The facts retained took place between 2007 and 2018, most of the victims were between 9 and 11 years old.

The notoriety of the accused, very integrated into local life, had undoubtedly discouraged the victims and their relatives from denouncing him.

Incarcerated since the end of 2018, Jean-Christophe Karcher has already spent nearly 4 years in detention.

Two years in prison (including one suspended) were also required against his father for destroying evidence.

At the request of his son, this almost 80-year-old man, who appears free, had burned several USB keys in his boiler on which there were certainly videos of the attacks committed by him.

Strasbourg

Strasbourg: The pedophile "shark" facing its 34 victims

Justice

Bas-Rhin: sexual assault on 34 girls, rape, "shark game" ... An ex-teacher in front of the assizes

The trial of the “Niederroedern shark” is held behind closed doors at the request of the civil parties.

Only a journalist from the local press was authorized to attend the debates, his colleagues being asked to leave the room before the start of the discussions.

The Brotherhood Association of Journalists of the Judicial Press (APJ) had expressed "its amazement" at this unprecedented measure while the SNJ had denounced "a practice consisting in sorting out the media"

  • Strasbourg

  • Great East

  • Justice

  • Court case

  • assize court

  • child crime

  • sexual assault