Trial of Inass Touloub parents begins in France

The trial of Halima El Bakhti and Ahmed Touloub has commenced in the Loir-et-Cher Assize Court in Blois, regarding the 1987 death of four-year-old Inass Touloub. The child's body was discovered in August 1987 near the A10 motorway, wrapped in a blue blanket. The case remained unsolved until 2017, when DNA evidence led to the identification of the parents.

During the proceedings, a forensic expert testified that the child suffered multiple, repeated acts of violence over several months, including fractures, burns, and approximately twenty human bite marks. The expert suggested the cause of death may have involved asphyxiation, pulmonary contusion, and significant blood loss, compounded by a lack of medical care.

Halima El Bakhti, 72, faces charges of torture and acts of barbarity resulting in death without intent. Her husband, Ahmed Touloub, 74, is appearing alongside her on charges of complicity. Both have denied the allegations. The court session was briefly suspended after El Bakhti collapsed following the presentation of autopsy photographs.