Funeral of eleven-year-old Lyhanna in Fleurance – France debates judicial failure

Already the previous Sunday, several thousand people dressed in white had taken part in a marche blanche to remember the eleven-year-old. Many carried signs reading "Lyhanna should still be alive." Numerous pupils from Lyhanna's school once again turned out for the funeral service on Friday.

At the same time, another procession formed in the town: motorcyclists gathered late in the morning in Auch to ride in a convoy to Fleurance „pour la petite Lyhanna partie beaucoup trop tôt". Michel Baylac, president of the Association of Mayors of France in the Gers department, had called during the week for a minute of silence to be observed at the time of the funeral.

The suspect and the allegations

At the center of the case is 41-year-old Jérôme Barella, whose older daughter was friends with Lyhanna. The girl was last seen on 29 May at the Collège Hubert-Reeves, when she got into the main suspect's car. Barella was arrested by the gendarmerie the day after the disappearance and has been in pre-trial detention since his indictment for kidnapping on 1 June. He himself had claimed to have driven the girl to the swimming pool.

Four counts of rape have now been filed against Jérôme B. As the newspaper "Le Monde" reported, a complaint of rape of a girl had already been filed against him in summer 2025, without him having been questioned since then. According to the public prosecutor's office, investigations are also being conducted against his brother and the father of the two men – including for the rape of a minor and rape within a partnership. A US child protection organization had reportedly alerted the French authorities to the suspect in the past.

Debate over judicial failure

The case has triggered a broad debate in France about judicial failure. According to official figures, around 70,000 case files are sitting unprocessed at public prosecutors' offices, including those concerning serious sexual offenses. Every year in France, some 160,000 children – the majority of them girls – become victims of sexual violence. In 84 nurseries and 20 school sports facilities, sexual assaults on minors are said to have occurred in recent years; criminal proceedings are now underway against 87 caregivers, almost half of them for sexual violence.

Doctor Gilles Lazimi, founder of an organization against violence towards children, told the AFP news agency that judicial failure in France is systemic: „Diese Pannen gibt es dauernd, fortwährend. Heute noch wird die Gewalt gegen Kinder und auch gegen Frauen banalisiert." On the margins of the memorial gatherings in Fleurance, calls for the resignation of the justice minister were repeatedly heard: „Darmanin démission!" Solidarity actions took place in numerous cities.

Political reactions

Emmanuel Macron and several ministers acknowledged serious failings in the justice system. Sébastien Lecornu announced a „umfassendes Gesetz gegen sexuelle und sexistische Gewalt". Gérald Darmanin, who has come under pressure in the affair, announced that the 70,000 pending case files would be cleared by 14 July. According to information from the Élysée Palace, he remains in office for the time being. „Et après, le fait qu'on ait mis en berne les drapeaux, le drapeau français en particulier, c'est pour dire qu'il y a des choses à faire", a representative of the town said. „Aujourd'hui, il faut revoir (…) ce qui a conduit aux dysfonctionnements et encourager ceux qui ont en charge le pouvoir, ou qui l'auront demain, ainsi que les parlementaires, bien évidemment, à légiférer, à trouver les moyens pour que cela ne se reproduise plus."

The burial itself took place in the evening, in private, attended only by the immediate family. „L'inhumation se fera au cours d'une cérémonie privée, dans l'intimité de la famille", the city administration had announced beforehand. Citizens wishing to show their sympathy were invited to gather „en communion avec la famille", „tout simplement pour dire qu'on pense à Lyhanna". The investigations into the cause of death and the exact sequence of events are ongoing.

At the Collège Hubert-Reeves, the last place where Lyhanna was seen alive, mourners had laid dozens of bouquets of flowers and stuffed animals in front of a tree in the days after her disappearance. A sign there „rendait hommage à Lyhanna et à tous les enfants".