Pregnant woman killed: her husband and his second companion, brought for murder and torture

Europe 1 with AFP 2:21 p.m., August 05, 2022

The man suspected of having killed his eight-month-pregnant wife on Wednesday in Montargis in Loiret will be presented on Friday, with his second companion, before the criminal center of Orleans for murder with an act of torture and barbarity, announced the prosecutor of the Republic of Montargis.

"The offenses which will be charged can be qualified as murder preceded, accompanied or followed by another crime, (...) consisting of acts of torture and barbarism", declared during a press conference the public prosecutor of the Republic Loïc Abrial, specifying that the judicial investigation would be entrusted to an examining magistrate of the criminal center of Orleans.

"Many injuries and fractures" 

The prosecutor requested the temporary detention of the victim's husband and his second partner, also pregnant.

They are both of Senegalese nationality.

The victim died Wednesday at Montargis hospital, after being found unconscious at his home.

Aged 31 and of French nationality, she presented "many lesions and numerous fractures", especially in the face, according to Loïc Abrial.

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"The cause of his death was severe head trauma (...) probably following numerous blows to the head. This head trauma is also associated with previous cervical trauma, which could be the result of strangulation gestures" , detailed the prosecutor, citing the first elements of the autopsy.

An "unsanitary" apartment, "rachitic" children

"Some of the injuries found are akin to acts of torture and barbarity. The many lesions are of different ages (...) and were found all over the body," he added.

The little girl carried by the victim was "almost full term" and "viable" and "her death seems linked to that of the mother", according to the prosecution.

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During their intervention, the police had found that the apartment was "unsanitary".

The couple's three children aged 5, 3 and 2, like that of the second companion, aged 3, had a "rickety appearance" and a "dirt state".

The four children were temporarily placed with child welfare.

'No warning signs'

During his hearings, the 35-year-old husband admitted to an argument with the victim, "but he denied any homicidal intent", according to the magistrate.

"He tried to clear himself of the death of his wife and the lack of care for the children. (...) He also tried to blame the tragedy on his second companion, also present in the accommodation during the events. This last contested all the charges against her", explained Loïc Abrial 

The husband was already known to justice only for traffic offences.

The prosecution indicated that no "warning sign of violence" had been "brought to the attention (...) of all the authorities who are able to report the situation".