Paris – 23.06.2026: After the tragic death of 11-year-old Lyhanna in May 2026, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez emphasized the responsibility of judges and initiated a comprehensive investigation to clarify the responsibilities of all parties involved.
Lyhanna disappeared on May 29, 2026, in Fleurance in the Gers department. Her lifeless body was found on June 4, 2026, in an abandoned silo building in Puycasquier. Investigations revealed that she had been a victim of sexual violence before her death. The main suspect, Jérôme Barella, a 41-year-old man and father of a friend of Lyhanna, had previously been known for similar allegations but had not been interrogated before her disappearance.
In a press conference on June 22, 2026, Interior Minister Nuñez stated that judicial responsibility is by no means a taboo subject in a democracy. He criticized the failure of the protection chain and commissioned the General Inspectorate of the National Gendarmerie to conduct an investigation to examine the role and possible failings of each individual involved.
Earlier, the General Inspectorates of the National Gendarmerie and the Justice Ministry issued a joint report on June 22, 2026, highlighting serious deficiencies in the handling of a complaint filed in August 2025 against Barella. The report criticized key errors, negligence, and omissions at various levels of the judiciary and investigative authorities.
As a consequence, Minister Nuñez ordered an administrative investigation on the same day and reassigned two gendarmes, including the lead investigator and the company commander of Condom, to other duties. This occurred immediately after the report’s publication, which revealed significant failures in processing the complaint against Barella.
The Magistrates’ Union criticized the portrayal and actions of Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, who had already identified those responsible and announced sanctions before the administrative investigation was completed. The union instead called for addressing the long-standing structural issues, including the high caseload and inadequate prioritization of cases involving sexual violence against minors.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also commented on the report’s findings. He expressed regret over the failure of the protection chain and emphasized the need to precisely clarify responsibilities and impose appropriate individual consequences. At the same time, he warned against condemning the entire judiciary or the National Gendarmerie wholesale.
The Lyhanna affair has sparked an intense public debate about the efficiency and accountability of judicial authorities in France. The ongoing investigations aim to provide comprehensive clarity about the procedures and failures in this tragic case and contribute to closing future protection gaps.