Trial in France: Victorine’s alleged murderer described as “unhinged to be locked up”

“I always had one foot in good and one foot in evil”: the alleged murderer of Victorine admitted his “duality” on Wednesday, on the third day of his trial. Ludovic B., 29, is on trial in Grenoble for the murder preceded by an attempted rape of this student, as well as for a violent rape committed in September 2018 in the Rhône on another young woman of 26, “Vicky “.

Three of his half-brothers, interviewed Tuesday as witnesses, depicted a family setting that was both modest and chaotic, with a mother of Martinique origin essentially raising seven children from four different fathers alone in a rural area near Villefontaine. Ludovic, the penultimate, “was a good child, not a difficult child,” she told investigators.

Invited to speak at length on Wednesday about his personality, he speaks calmly and in a soft voice, his hands resting on the edge of the box, but seems to avoid looking towards the civil parties’ bench. “I’m not complaining about my place (in prison), I’m where I should be. What I did is indescribable,” he declared regarding the facts, for which he faces life imprisonment.

Two of his older brothers agreed in court, describing him as “hardworking”, “reliable”, while admitting to having only maintained superficial relations with him. The third, Samuel, takes less gloves: “He was doing stupid things (…) My mother couldn’t do anything, she yelled at him, hit him, she told the police ‘keep him’, she couldn’t do it. more”. In the end, she “gave up,” he said.

Ludovic B., who left the school system without any diploma, left his family home when he was 18, did temporary work then set up a small transport company which, according to him, worked well. At the time of his arrest in October 2020, he was married to his childhood sweetheart and father of a young boy. He had “matured”. “His life was great, unlike mine,” said his half-brother Samuel.

This is not the opinion of Dounia A., sister of his now ex-wife. Ludovic B. “took our sister from us, she was under control,” she declared, explaining that her family had never accepted this marriage. “For me, he’s crazy. (…) Make sure that he can never harm any woman again,” she told the court.

There were indeed “two Ludovics”, admitted the accused on the stand. Confronted with darker aspects, he admitted his addiction to cocaine, his numerous infidelities and violence – reciprocal according to him – against his wife.

On the other hand, he appeared reluctant to recognize other aspects that were nevertheless supported by the investigation or by testimonies such as the sale of narcotics beyond the simple “repair” of loved ones, an addiction to pornographic and violent content, or even behaviors “insistent” in order to obtain sexual favors from his various conquests.

Curious to find out who’s in the news The essentials? Join us on the number 1 business network in Luxembourg!