Lyhanna death sparks French justice report on procedural failures

An inspection report compiled by the General Inspectorates of the National Gendarmerie (IGGN) and of Justice (IGJ) was submitted to Justice Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The document, based on around thirty interviews, identified multiple failures in the handling of the case involving 11‑year‑old Lyhanna’s death, including “loss of time” and “absence of procedural follow‑up” by both the parquet and the gendarmerie in Gers.

The report criticises the non‑priority treatment of a complaint filed in August 2025 by the mother of a ten‑year‑old girl, Rosa, accusing suspect Jérôme Barella – already subject to several sexual‑assault allegations – of repeated rapes. The complaint was shuffled between the Haute‑Garonne and Gers jurisdictions and was not directed to the appropriate gendarmerie unit, causing delays. Inspector‑General Stéphane Noël and gendarmerie chief Jean‑Michel Gentil reiterated that the investigation had been professional but lamented its ordinary handling. Further investigations are scheduled for 10 July, with the definitive report due 5 September, and the findings could lead to sanctions.

The revelations have renewed pressure on Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, who face calls for accountability amid broader criticism of the French justice system’s capacity to address sexual‑crime cases involving minors.