Fleurance – 16.06.2026: The mother of Rosa, a 12-year-old student from Gers, has filed a lawsuit against the French state. She accuses the authorities of failing in the investigation of the rape allegations against Jérôme Barella. Barella is the main suspect in the case of the missing 11-year-old Lyhanna.
In August 2025, Rosa’s mother filed a criminal complaint after her daughter was reportedly repeatedly raped by Barella. The alleged acts are said to have occurred between September 2024 and May 2025 in Barella’s hometown of Montestruc-sur-Gers. Despite medical and psychological reports supporting Rosa’s statements, Barella was not questioned. Nine months after the complaint, the suspect remained at liberty.
Due to this inactivity, the mother has filed a lawsuit citing “gross negligence” against the state. She also plans criminal action against the involved investigators and judges for failure to provide assistance and endangering the lives of other persons.
These official failures relate to numerous accusations against Barella. As early as 2017, he was listed in police databases for allegedly maintaining a problematic relationship with a minor—without charges being brought. In 2021, he was dismissed from a school for “inappropriate behavior” toward a student, without the authorities being informed. The first formal rape accusation concerning a minor girl came in October 2022. Additional complaints followed in 2025 and 2026 from various regions of France, involving girls under 15. Despite incriminating psychological and forensic evidence, investigations were prolonged due to slow communication between authorities and a lack of proactive measures.
Rosa’s mother sharply criticizes the justice system. She states that she now must act herself after state institutions failed. She demands a comprehensive review of errors and effective accountability.
The lawsuit has caused a public stir and raised questions about the effectiveness of the justice system in cases of sexual abuse. The investigations against Barella are ongoing. The authorities are under significant pressure to thoroughly clarify the allegations and take responsibility.
Rosa’s family hopes their lawsuit will trigger a thorough examination of the failures and contribute to treating such cases more seriously in the future. They demand justice for their daughter and other potential victims.
The public now expects the justice system to take measures to prevent failures and adequately support victims of sexual abuse.
Sources
- Le Monde
- Planet.fr
- Le Point