This November 25 marks the opening of the trial of Ludovic Bertin, tried for the murder of Victorine, a young 18-year-old communications student. On September 26, 2020, while walking home in Villefontaine, in Isère, Victorine disappeared. Two days later, his body was found in a stream, just two kilometers from his home. The conclusions of the autopsy are chilling: the young woman died of drowning, after a violent intervention. The revelations from the investigation and the testimonies of relatives project this drama into a dimension that is both intimate and collective.
An ordinary evening, a broken destiny
Victorine had missed her bus that evening. Rather than wait for the connection, she decides to walk. She warns her sister on the phone, a banal gesture, marked by precaution. It is almost 7 p.m., and it is near the Stade de la Prairie that she is seen for the last time. Not seeing her return, her parents quickly raised the alarm, emphasizing her responsible nature and the improbability of running away. For two days, the town was mobilized: police, volunteers, dog teams and divers united in a frantic search. Until the discovery of the body in a stream, a scene that forever shakes this peaceful community.
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Ludovic Bertin and his disturbing inconsistencies
Two weeks after the macabre discovery, a twist sheds light on the investigation. Ludovic Bertin, then 25 years old, was denounced by his best friend. Bertin admits to having crossed Victorine, having grabbed her by the neck, then thrown into the water to hide her body. However, he denies any sexual motive. But the testimonies and elements of the investigation reveal a worrying portrait: Ludovic Bertin allegedly turned off his phone to “search for prey”. These inconsistencies, coupled with his past behavior – he is also accused of rape in 2018 – raise questions about the premeditation of his action.
“The phobia of many young women and their parents”
“What happened to Victorine is the anxiety, the fear, the phobia of many young women and their parents,” confides a journalist. This trial is more than a search for truth: it highlights a daily insecurity that many women experience. How often are these solitary walks, often perceived as harmless, tinged with worry? How many young women, headphones on or phone in hand, accelerate their pace after dark, anticipating dangers that they hope are imaginary?
A trial to ease the pain
For Victorine’s loved ones, this trial is a crucial step, not only to obtain justice but also to begin a long work of reconstruction. In Villefontaine, the pain remains sharp, palpable. The white march organized in 2020 brought together more than 6,000 people, a powerful echo of the outpouring of solidarity that united the region. Three years later, the questions remain, and the need for answers is more urgent than ever.
This trial also raises collective issues: the safety of women in public spaces, the warning signals to recognize, and the need for accumulated prevention. It highlights a reality where vigilance remains a necessary weapon in the face of unpredictable violence.
