Ludovic Bertin, sentenced last Friday to life imprisonment with a security period of 20 years, for the murder of Victorine Dartois in 2020 in Villefontaine (Isère), appealed the decision this Monday, confirmed the general counsel Françoise Benezech. “Ludovic Bertin appealed the decision of the Isère Assize Court sentencing him to life imprisonment”she said.
The appeal trial will be held before the Drôme Assize Court, which also depends on the Grenoble Court of Appeal, on a date still unknown, but probably in 2025, she said. The Dartois family's lawyer, Me Kelly Monteiro, reacted to this decision by affirming not to be “completely surprised” in view of the behavior of Ludovic Bertin during the trial. “On the other hand, the civil parties are very saddened that he is once again inflicting on them a long and painful trial. Laborious days await them”she added, to AFP.
Ludovic Bertin, aged 29, was found guilty of the murder of Victorine Dartois, an 18-year-old student, killed on September 26, 2020 in Villefontaine (Isère). That evening, Victorine had not returned home after a day with friends at the Villefontaine brand village. Having missed her bus, she decided to return on foot, taking an isolated path near the Stade de la Prairie. His body was found 36 hours later in a nearby stream.
The investigations led to the arrest of Ludovic Bertin on October 13, 2020, after he confessed the facts to his best friend, who had denounced him. The delivery driver was then indicted and placed in pre-trial detention. At trial, he was convicted of strangling and drowning her after attempting to rape her.
Also convicted of raping another young woman
In addition to the murder of Victorine Dartois, Ludovic Bertin was also convicted of the rape of another young woman, committed in 2018. This victim came forward after the publication of Ludovic Bertin's photo in the media, explaining that she too had was strangled and forced into sexual intercourse by the accused while leaving a nightclub.
A new trial should therefore be held in the coming months before the Drôme Assize Court. Aware of this possibility, Me Kelly Monteiro warned on the day of the verdict: “We will do it again, we will be there and we hope that there will be the same outcome”.
