The young man suspected of murdering a priest found dead on Monday at his home in a town in the Oise, was hospitalized "under duress" Tuesday, his attitude leaving "suppose significant mental problems," announced the parquet of Beauvais.
The suspect was driving his victim's car
The 19-year-old suspect was arrested Monday at the wheel of priest Roger Matassoli's vehicle by the gendarmerie of Beaumont-sur-Oise, in the Val-d'Oise, and then placed in custody for facts initially driving without permit and rebellion, according to the statement of Beauvais prosecutor Florent Boura. The father of the young man, informed by the authorities that his son was driving the 90-year-old priest's vehicle, had then gone to the latter's home in Ronquerolles, a hamlet in the town of Agnetz in the Oise.
Having seen through the window of the house the dead body of the victim, he had then alerted the gendarmes of Clermont. A flagrancy investigation for homicide was thus opened, and in this context, the research brigade of Clermont and the Amiens research section have taken over custody of the young man.
But "they did not manage to hear the mis en cause whose attitude suggested significant mental problems," said Florent Boura. "A psychiatric examination actually led to having to take custody of the person concerned in the night around one in the morning to proceed to his hospitalization under duress".
"A death by asphyxiation"
The autopsy conducted Tuesday concluded "to death by asphyxiation and the presence of traces of blows to the abdomen, skull and face," said the prosecutor. Further examinations are still needed to clarify the causes of death. The investigation is also continuing to determine "the possible responsibility of the suspect," said Florent Boura. In the morning Tuesday, Jacques Benoit-Gonnin, Bishop of Beauvais, Noyon and Senlis, had issued a statement following the death of Father Matassoli. "We think of his family and pray for him," he said.