At only 15 years old, she attended from the front row at his father’s trial. From the box, surrounded by two police officers, the 50-year-old man seeks her gaze and tries to speak to her. The young girl looks away, then takes out a handkerchief. This Friday, June 28, the court of Périgueux, in Dordogne, is trying this man in immediate appearance for domestic violence against his partner as a repeat offender, which the teenager witnessed.
The couple, together for thirty years, has not been heard for several years. In her interview with the police, the girl says that her parents “argue, insult each other and throw objects at each other”.
Repeat violence
In August 2023, the Périgord man was sentenced to six months in prison for having thrown a knife in the direction of his partner. This time, it’s a bunch of keys. During the night of Wednesday June 26 to Thursday June 27, an argument broke out against a backdrop of jealousy. First insults, then The man throws his bunch of keys over the living room sofaThe woman was injured on the forehead. The man also hit her vehicle while reversing with his van. The teenager then called the police. When they arrived, he also had injuries, scratches, and a torn t-shirt.
“I wanted to flee precisely to prevent it from degenerating”the father of the family defended himself in court about the damage to the vehicle. The man with the very muscular tattooed arms said that he tries to cure his alcoholism which makes him violent and which has worsened since he suffered from a very painful illness. That evening, the alcohol test came back positive. He says he regularly sees addiction specialists, psychologists and psychiatrists.
“She is caught between a rock and a hard place.”
Throughout the hearing, the man said he awareness of his problems and that he will accept the separation from his partner if the court issues a removal order. Asked about the very vulgar insults and the violence in front of his daughter, he said he wanted “take care of yourself and set a good example”.
The victim’s lawyer is asking that he no longer be allowed to approach the family home. “This young girl is caught between a rock and a hard place. She is attached to her father of course, but when he is calm, not the one she knew that day.”pleads Maître Benichou. The Prosecutor also requires this ban on going to his home in addition to a removal order and nine months in prison, six of which were suspended.
Prison closed
The defense attorney believes that his client should “working on your role as a father” and that for this “he must be followed but be at liberty”. In a sob, the fifty-year-old ask for one last chance. He glances at his daughter: “I want her to find her old father again“.
Finally, the court sentenced the father to two months in prison and seven suspended. He will also have to serve an additional two months in prison since he was already on probation. He is prohibited from coming into contact with the victim, from going to his home, and from possessing a weapon subject to authorization. He is obliged to seek treatment and will have to pay 500 euros in moral damages to his partner. On the other hand, he is acquitted for the damage to the vehicle.
