A large police presence was deployed this Wednesday evening around the Saint-Pierre du Lac church in Montigny-le-Bretonneux. It is in this modern building, in the heart of the new town of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, that Philippine and her family have their habits. The young 19-year-old student, found dead and largely buried on Saturday in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris (16th arrondissement), regularly came there to pay her respects.
Usually held every Wednesday, the vigil brought together nearly 200 people on September 25, including some close to the victim. “I don’t know the family personally, but we’re part of the same community. What’s happening is absolutely tragic,” says Cindy, who says she was touched by “the few words spoken for Philippine” by Father Hervé Grosjean, the parish priest of Montigny-Voisins. “Being here tonight (Wednesday evening) is a way of gathering around the family to help them get through this ordeal,” adds the faithful.
Colette also noted “the emotion of Father Grosjean” when talking about Philippine, who was going to celebrate her 20th birthday in October and was part of the local Saint-Quentin les Villages group of the Scouts and Guides of France. “He spoke of the injustice and cruelty of this world, sometimes just a stone’s throw from our homes (sic). » An hour of sharing and prayers that touched the entire community.
“My heart is sad tonight,” adds Cindy, who plans to attend the funeral scheduled for Friday at the Saint-Louis Cathedral in Versailles. The religious service, which will also be orchestrated by the same Abbé Grosjean, will be held in the iconic church of the royal city. In addition to the limited capacity of the church in Montigny-le-Bretonneux (just under 300 seats), the Versailles Cathedral is highly symbolic for the family since it is where all of the Le Noir de Carlan children were confirmed.
After having lunch at the Crous of Paris-Dauphine University last Friday, the young woman was supposed to go to her parents’ home in Montigny-le-Bretonneux. But she never showed up. According to the autopsy report, the victim died of asphyxiation.
After three days and three nights of tracking, a 22-year-old suspect, Taha O., was arrested Tuesday evening in Geneva (Switzerland) by local police officers. This Moroccan national, whose DNA was found at the crime scene, was already known to the French justice system for a rape committed in a wood in Taverny (Val-d’Oise) in 2019 when he was a minor.
A judicial investigation is now open, in particular, on the offences of murder preceded, accompanied or followed by another crime, rape, theft and fraud, all in a state of legal recidivism. “The French judicial authorities will send an extradition request to the Swiss judicial authorities in order to have the person concerned handed over as quickly as possible,” the public prosecutor specified.
