The autopsy of the priest Olivier Maire revealed that the clergyman died as a result of "violent blows" to the head.
The latter presented six significant brain lesions that led to internal and external hemorrhages.
The murder weapon could not be determined.
The priest Olivier Maire, killed in the night from Sunday to Monday in Saint-Laurent-Sur-Sèvre (Vendée), died of "violent blows" to the head, the parquet of La Roche informed Tuesday evening. sur-Yon. The autopsy, carried out Tuesday at the forensic institute of Nantes, revealed that "the victim presented six lesions, all located on the head, caused by violent blows" but the examination did "not allow to determine the nature of the murder weapon ", according to the press release from the prosecution. "These significant cerebral lesions resulted in internal and external hemorrhages, the death being, according to the conclusions of the forensic scientist, occurred quickly after the blows were carried", specifies one of the same source.
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Regarding the alleged perpetrator, the prosecution indicates that "the psychiatric examination undergone by Emmanuel Abayisenga at the Cholet hospital center (Maine-et-Loire, editor's note) on August 9, 2021 concluded that his mental state was incompatible with a custody measure, including in a hospital environment (...) Emmanuel Abayisenga was hospitalized in a psychiatric environment at the request of a representative of the State following the two orders of August 9 and 10, 2021 prefects of Maine-et-Loire and Vendée ", indicates the prosecution, recalling that" the custody measure of which he was the subject was therefore lifted on August 9, 2021 ".
An investigation underway for "intentional homicide"
Emmanuel Abayisenga himself went to the gendarmerie on Monday morning and accused himself of the murder of the priest, a 60-year-old man, who was the provincial superior of the Montfortian community. This 40-year-old Rwandan, who arrived in France in 2012, was also the alleged arsonist at Nantes cathedral in July 2020. He was hosted by the Montfortian fathers, as part of his judicial control, awaiting trial.
Following the death of the priest, an investigation is opened for "intentional homicide" and, as it stands, "no motive linked to a terrorist motive" appears in this case, the deputy prosecutor of La said Monday. Roche-sur-Yon, Yannick Le Goater. Emmanuel Abayisenga was released on July 29 from hospitalization in psychiatry for more than a month. Previously, he had been imprisoned from July 20, 2020 to May 31, 2021, as part of the investigation into the fire in Nantes cathedral on July 18, 2020. On his release from prison, he was placed under judicial supervision , with an obligation of residence within the religious community of Monfortains.