Second day of the trial for murder of a vulnerable person at the Marne Assize Court, in Reims. On June 16, 2020, Lucette Dupuis, 80 years old, is found dead at his home, probably during a burglary that went wrong. This Tuesday, June 25, the director of investigation was heard by the court, he recounts what we know about the facts.
It was a friend of the victim, who had come to pick up Lucette Dupuis to accompany her to the dentist, who alerted the firefighters at the end of the afternoon. On site, emergency services discovered the body of the octogenarian, covered in bruises and a broken nose. The victim was strangled to death with the electric cord of his bedside lamp. The apartment was searched and the police quickly assumed a burglary gone wrong.
The accused denounced himself three days after the facts
This version was corroborated three days later. Dylan Southeny, then 26, went to the police station to report himself. Riddled with debt, he decided to burglarize the apartment from Lucette Dupuis, a former client for whom he did work. He also says he used his status as a worker to enter the victim’s apartment on the day of the crime.
According to his statements during the investigation, Dylan Southeny wanted to take the old lady to another room. She then fell accidentally and he placed a cushion at her head. The octogenarian then suffered convulsions and the accused became frightened. He then allegedly began to strangle her with his arm and then with an electric wire. After the incident, the accused fled in a car, undoubtedly driven by his former partner, whose phone was detected in the victim’s street.
In that case, two people are tried before the Assize Court. Dylan Southeny is on trial for murder and aggravated robbery of a vulnerable person. He faces life imprisonment. His former partner is on trial for complicity in aggravated theft. She faces up to 10 years in prison. The verdict will be delivered this Thursday, June 27.
