Lyhanna case: inspection report on judicial failures to be delivered to minister

An inspection report by the French Gendarmerie and Justice ministries is slated for delivery on Monday, 22 June, to interior minister Sébastien Lecornu. The report, prepared after the murder and alleged rape of 11‑year‑old Lyhanna in the Gers, highlights a series of individual errors – delayed filing of a complaint, mis‑routing between jurisdictions, and lack of prioritisation – rather than a shortage of resources.

The suspect, Jérôme Barella, had previously faced multiple complaints for sexual offences on minors. The dossier was opened weeks after receipt, and key investigative steps were limited to a secondary interview of a complainant’s mother. Ministers Gérald Darmanin and Laurent Nuñez have pledged administrative sanctions and Darmanin has publicly apologised, while feminist and child‑rights groups demand his resignation and broader reforms. A government‑ordered review of roughly 70 000 pending sexual‑violence complaints is set for mid‑July.