In front of the entrance to the Jeux2Goûts restaurant, in the town center of Châteauroux, the memory of the mountain of roses and the crowd full of sorrow remains imbued. Six months after the sudden death of Matisse, Saturday April 27, 2024, the window has regained its sobriety. Inside, a refined plaque, offered by a customer, reminds us every day of the young apprentice cook, son of the two managers Cécile Cacciatori and Christophe Marchais. “I have lots of photos of him behindconfides his mother. With work, it's important to have him here. » And this painting, offered by the Castelroussine artist Pascale Abramovici. Matisse appears there all in pink, soccer ball on his foot, saucepan in hand, an otter on his shoulder. “Things that represent him”comments Cécile Cacciatori.
“Until there are enough social workers…”
His son, Matisse Marchais, was stabbed to death by another 15-year-old in the Saint-Denis district. According to information provided by the Bourges public prosecutor's office during the investigation, the young man indicted for murder had returned home, after an argument, in order to grab a blade and return to attack Matisse. Born in Afghanistan, the accused arrived in Châteauroux in the 2010s, with his family. He had been involved, arrested and released, a few days before the tragedy, as part of an ambush case in Belle-Isle park.
“We all bury our heads in the sand”
“He was known to social services. Many knew that this young person was problematic and that he needed support. I don't understand “protests Cécile Cacciatori. She's not angry, “really not”but his tone rises. “I am simply making observationsshe continues. Before my son was killed, I was trying to bury my head in the sand. We all bury our heads in the sand. But as long as there are not enough social workers and nurses in schools… We will not be able to get there. We cannot leave young people like that, in difficulty, when we know that they fled Afghanistanshe pleads. When you know that a family has problems, you must take care of them at all costs. There is a real problem with institutions. It's terrifying. »
