In Saint-Brieuc, the Côtes-d'Armor Assize Court is the scene of a dark and poignant trial. Since November 8, 2024, the court has examined the tragic death of Eythan, a three-year-old boy found lifeless in July 2022 in Guingamp. His mother and her partner are accused of abuse leading to the child's death, in conditions that reveal unbearable neglect and violence.
An unsanitary environment and unworthy living conditions
The drama took place in an apartment at rue du Petit Lourdes, near the Roudourou stadium. The unsanitary conditions of the place struck the first responders: rubbish strewn on the ground, animal excrement, empty bottles, a messy shower tray and mattresses on the floor in a room shared between the child and several kittens. This deleterious setting bears witness to the precarious living conditions that Eythan faced on a daily basis.
On the day of the tragedy, the little boy had not been seen all day. It was only around 4:20 p.m. that his mother's companion, Gaël Scoubart, entered the room to discover the child's lifeless body. After trying to wake the mother, he consumed alcohol before alerting the emergency services. The child was pronounced dead shortly after emergency services arrived. The emergency doctor, horrified, noted multiple bruises on the child's body, a sign of repeated violence.
A couple under influence and detached from reality
The child's mother and her partner, in a relationship since December 2021, both present profiles marked by addictions. The mother, Lisa D., regularly consumed cannabis, in addition to antidepressant treatment, while Gaël Scoubart admitted to daily consumption of alcohol and narcotics. Their lifestyle, punctuated by a virtual existence and staggered sleeping hours, seemed to have distanced them from any parental responsibility.
According to testimonies collected during the investigation, Lisa D. herself recognizes her lack of involvement in the education of her son, whom she claims to have “delegated” to her partner. A striking discrepancy between the expected role of a mother and her daily reality, where she only woke up late in the afternoon, long after her son had been locked alone in his room for the night.
Serious charges and penalties incurred
The trial highlights extremely serious facts. Gaël Scoubart is accused of murder and violence against a minor, and faces life imprisonment. Lisa D., for her part, is on trial for deprivation of care and failure to assist a minor in danger, with a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. If Gaël Scoubart denies the accusations, the context of abuse and neglect seems undeniable.
The debates, which continue until November 15, seek to clarify the circumstances leading to the child's death and the degree of responsibility of each of the accused. The photographs presented to the court, depicting Eythan's battered body, are damning evidence of the suffering he endured.
Photo d’illustration : DR
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