The suspect's version discredited by Sihem's family lawyer.
The lifeless body of the 18-year-old girl was found in a wood, in the town of Salles-du-Gardon (Gard), a village bordering La Grand Combe, on the instructions of the main suspect, who admitted on Wednesday having killed the young woman.
The 39-year-old man claimed "to have killed the young girl in the context of an argument linked to their romantic relationship", indicated the public prosecutor of Nîmes, Cécile Gensac.
“This relationship (…), nobody knew about it”
However, within the family of Sihem, “this romantic relationship, nobody knew about it”, affirmed Mourad Battikh, the lawyer of the family of the victim during a press conference in Paris.
"This version is not corroborated by anyone," he insisted.
"Sihem saw this gentleman as a niece saw his uncle," said the lawyer, explaining that the young girl regularly babysat the children of her cousin, ex-wife of the suspect.
"She was always sharing, loved by everyone, happy to live and with life ahead of her", he continued, explaining that "a whole village is in mourning" and that his family "shows great dignity" in the face of this tragedy despite his "deep anger".
Miscellaneous facts
Death of Sihem: The body of the schoolgirl found in the forest after the confession of the suspect
Miscellaneous facts
Death of Sihem: What we know about the tragic outcome of the young woman
Miscellaneous facts
Occitania
Languedoc Roussillon
Murder