A man tried for four days for the murder of his partner in Marmande

The Assize Court of Lot-et-Garonne will have to judge a 44-year-old man, from January 27 to 30, 2025 for aggravated murder. Still presumed innocent, he will have to answer for murder of rue Gillet, committed 3 years ago, in February 2022 and risks life imprisonment.

It is a dramatic story that left its mark on people in Marmande: a femicide. Just a few steps from the city center.

dead in the street on a winter night

In the middle of a winter night, at 1:30 a.m. on February 17, 2022, a woman was taken care of by the firefighters. She was found lying on the ground, in the station area, rue Gillet exactly. She had several stab wounds. Despite the rescue intervention, she succumbed.

It is about Laura de Pradenaa 31-year-old mother of three. The autopsy revealed the presence of eight stab wounds on the victim’s body. A real relentlessness.

The investigation made it possible to provide a chronology of the young woman’s tragic evening. In particular thanks to the videos captured by the bank camera located not far from the scene of the tragedy. Two men were then identified.

If the first was quickly exonerated. The second, who had been introduced to him by a colleague and who the victim frequented, was arrested in La Réole in Gironde the next day, February 18.

To gendarmes who questioned him, he allegedly explained that he had grabbed a knife during an argument and had acted out of jealousy. All while he was in a drunken state. The victim was beaten in his apartment. It was while going to get help in the street that the thirty-year-old collapsed and succumbed to her injuries, particularly to the head. It was the blow she received in the side that was fatal.

Of Spanish origin, Laura de Pradena first lived several years in Meilhan-sur-Garonne. She had just moved into this accommodation on rue Gillet, after separating from the father of her children.

As part of the investigation, a reconstruction of this crime was ordered and carried out on May 23, 2023. Gillet Street was then closed to traffic. A mannequin was positioned in the street and the forty-year-old, indicted, was rather cooperative in explaining what happened.

A strong emotion

10 days after this murder, a white march was organized by Annick Cornaggia’s SOS Maman Enfants association (today the SOS Accueil Femmes Enfants association). 250 people marched in silence to pay tribute to the young woman and with the hope that never again will a woman die at the hands of her partner.

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