A French court on Friday sentenced a 53-year-old man to 27 years in prison for strangling his wife, dismembering her body, and scattering her remains in a Paris park in 2023. The case has drawn attention to domestic violence in France, where official figures show a rise in partner killings.
Discovery in Buttes-Chaumont Park
Park workers discovered a plastic bag containing parts of the victim's body in Buttes-Chaumont park, a popular area for picnicking families and joggers in the northeast of the French capital. Her head was found the following day. The victim, originally from Algeria, lived with her husband in the Paris suburbs. The couple had three children and were struggling financially.
Details of the Crime
Investigators revealed that after killing his wife, the man laid her body on the sofa, covered it with a blanket, and told their children not to bother her because she was tired. He then went out to buy an angle grinder to dismember the body. He later sent messages to her phone asking where she was, but eventually confessed to police.
Rise in Domestic Violence
According to official figures, in 2024, 107 women were killed by a partner or former partner in France, an 11 percent rise compared to the previous year. The case underscores ongoing concerns about domestic violence and femicide in the country.
