The indictment describes Raphaël Tourtois as illiterate, disabled and without qualifications. A father of seven, he briefly worked with his father as a mason, but had to stop after seriously injuring his arm in a fall while drunk. Alcohol and drugs also mark his life course, in addition to his nervous and impulsive character.
Screams, a struggle
On the evening of November 20, Raphaël, under the influence of alcohol, narcotics and medication, went to his father, who had also been drinking. Around 9:12 p.m., neighbors of the Belle-vue residence, alerted by screams coming from the house, called the police. Shortly after, Raphaël shows up at a neighbor’s house, panicking and asking for an ambulance.
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When help arrived, Daniel Tourtois was already dead, and the house was stained with blood. The police, initially thinking of death by slitting of the throat, learned from the medical examiner that the death was in fact the result of violent blows to the head causing cerebral edema, combined with a strangulation maneuver.
At the time of his arrest, Raphaël appeared hysterical, his face, chest and arms covered in blood, and he made incoherent comments while insulting the police officers. Already known to the authorities, his criminal record includes several convictions, notably for rebellion against the police.
Family tensions
The investigation revealed family tensions which will be addressed during the trial. Raphaël accuses his father of abusive behavior, claiming that he had touched one of his grandchildren, committed rape on a relative, cheated on his mother on several occasions and exercised regular violence against him.
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According to the defense, these elements are essential to understand the reasons behind this murder, committed by a son towards a father whom he continued to visit despite everything, out of concern for his solitude, but also out of love.
