The murder of Barbara, 24, shakes Avignon. A suspect has been arrested in Amsterdam and is expected to be extradited soon to face charges.
Murder of Barbara in Avignon – CREDIT: VarActu
The tragic murder of Barbara, a young woman of 24, which occurred in Avignon on December 10, is a major turning point. A suspect has been arrested in Amsterdam and is expected to be extradited soon to answer for his actions.
A macabre discovery in Avignon
Barbara’s lifeless body was found in her apartment located on rue de la Balance, in Avignon. The victim, a schizophrenic recognized as a disabled adult, showed signs of strangulation, bruising and a swollen face. The autopsy confirmed death by strangulation, ruling out the initial hypothesis of rape. Crack pipes and cocaine were also discovered at the scene of the tragedy, suggesting that the apartment had been the scene of tensions before the murder.
According to the first elements of the investigation, Barbara had spent the weekend preceding her death with three men, all known to the police, and her mother. Worried about not having any news, the latter had raised the alarm, allowing the police to make the macabre discovery.
A successful European arrest warrant
As part of the investigation opened for “murder, acts of torture and barbarity by an organized gang”, a European arrest warrant was issued against a 34-year-old suspect from Avignon. The latter was arrested on December 25 in Amsterdam by the Dutch police. Currently in pre-trial detention in the Netherlands, he awaits his extradition to France, scheduled for the coming weeks.
Investigators hope that ongoing DNA analyzes will corroborate the elements of the investigation and strengthen the charges against the suspect. Meanwhile, the Organized and Specialized Crime Division (DCOS) is continuing its investigations to clarify the precise circumstances of the tragedy.
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