a mother locks her three children in the cellar and deprives them of food

See my news
Follow News Essonne

“I was bullied in middle school. My mother found out, and she said to me: “ It's well done for youyou don’t need friends.” She did nothing to help me,” admits Mélanie* in tears at the bar of the Évry-Courcouronnes criminal court. This Wednesday, November 6, 2024, his 48-year-old mother was sentenced to three years of imprisonment, including two years with a two-year probationary suspension, for hitting her three children born in 2000, 2005 and 2007.

Kicks, strangulation, verbal violence…

It was in the context of another case that these acts of mistreatment were revealed. During the year 2022, an investigation is opened to acts of sexual assault that Mélanie would have suffered by her uncle. During her hearing, the police questioned the teenager about her childhood.

Mélanie explains to them that her mother is suffering significant alcohol problems. She also indicates that her mother hits her numerous times with kicks, punches and a saucepan. She states that she locks her for more than two hours in the cellar or deprives her of food as punishment.

Heard by the investigators, his big brother Benjamin* and his little sister Sarah* confirm his words. Sarah explains that her mother once strangled her, burned her with an iron, pulled her by her hair, locked in the cellar or outside in the cold wearing just a towel.

Benjamin also admits to the investigators the same types of violence, in particular that his mother committed him pulled private parts over his pants while they were shopping, or banging his head against the wall when she was drunk.

Several suicide attempts

“An expert psychiatrist examined your three children. He indicated that your two daughters were suffering of significant psychological impact. In particular, he issued an ITT (total work interruption) of 10 days to Mélanie, 7 days to Sarah and 2 days to Benjamin, who was able to take more perspective on the situation. Sarah and Mélanie still live with you,” explains the president of the court.

Namely that Mélanie tried to suicide repeatedly by cutting open his veins and taking numerous medications. She was notably hospitalized for 10 and a half months in Corbeil-Essonnes between 2022 and 2023, then recently in Yerres.

“I recognize that I am the cause of the psychological problems of my three children. For me, they were responsible for my separation from their father. I'm sorry I put them through this… I love them. I have trouble looking at myself in the mirror. Today, things are going very well with my daughters. I am there for them,” confides on the stand the defendant who lives in Brunoy and works as a childminder.

“I observe Madame's awareness, but that does not erase what she put her children through. The nature of the abuse strikes and shocks me. There was a real desire to harm and to do harm”, declared in particular the representative of the public prosecutor who had requested 2 years of imprisonment accompanied by a simple suspension, and socio-judicial monitoring with an obligation of care.

In addition to having been sentenced to three years of imprisonment, the defendant now hasban on practicing a professional activity with minors.

*First names have been changed.

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.