Thousands march after French schoolgirl's murder exposes legal failures

Thousands of mourners joined a silent march for the 11-year-old schoolgirl named only as Lyhanna, whose killing has provoked widespread outrage. Her parents led the cortege through the south-western village of Fleurance behind a banner reading “Never again”. Most people, including children, wore white shirts or T‑shirts, many bearing a smiling portrait of the child.

The killing has fuelled shock and anger and prompted a heated national debate over delays and failings in France’s justice system after the man held in connection with Lyhanna’s disappearance was found to have been on the police’s radar since 2017. Emmanuel Macron acknowledged an “unacceptable” failure in the legal system during a visit to Montenegro last week, saying “It is not a question of resources but responsibilities that will need to be determined through an official investigation.” Lyhanna was last seen getting into a grey car identified as belonging to Jérôme Barella, a father of two and school cleaner, in Fleurance on 29 May.

France, Fleurance

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