Fire at the Saint-Hilaire church in Poitiers: the suspect found guilty, but found irresponsible for his actions

This Friday, November 8, the Poitiers judicial court found guilty Sébastien D., 34 years old, from the arson which struck the Saint-Hilaire church in Poitiers on October 3. The altar of this building, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, was reduced to ashes. Four statues were also defaced. The walls were covered in soot. The monument is still closed to the public and the financial assessment of the damage is still underway.

However, no conviction was not pronounced against the accused. The judges recognized his criminal irresponsibility. They ordered his compulsory hospitalization in a psychiatric establishment so that he could receive treatment. The discernment of the thirty-year-old is abolished and he cannot therefore be condemned. The man suffers from delusional psychosis with mystical and megalomaniacal tendenciesaccording to the expert who examined it.

“I have the best translation” of the New Testament

During the hearing, Sébastien D did not admit the facts, despite the presence of his DNA at the scene of the fire, as well as the marking of his telephone, on the evening of the events, on site. “I am a Christian. I respect all religions and beliefs,” he explains. He also has a great interest in religion, so much so that he translated the New Testament from Greek into French. “Without bragging, I have the best translation”he declares, while he acknowledges in court don’t really speak Greek.

Now absorbed by translations of the work of the Chinese philosopher Lao Tseu, Sébastien D. admits to passing the “three quarters of his time on the Internet”notably hosted lives on YouTube where he chats with Internet users. He doesn’t not working and isolated. His lawyer speaks of “a obsession for religion. Not opposing hospitalization in a psychiatric establishment, the defendant sees it as a “Interesting experience“, l'”opportunity to have a mirror on [lui]-even.“

The public prosecutor’s office and the lawyer for the diocesan association, civil party in the case, do not dispute the expert opinion which concludes that he was not criminally responsible. On the other hand, a hearing on civil interests will take place on September 15, 2025 to decide on possible financial compensation for the City of Poitiers, owner of the building and the Church.