A 93-year-old woman was found dead in her home in Toulouse on Sunday 27 September. The police found a naked 34-year-old man lying on top of her. The post-mortem revealed injuries consistent with rape and strangulation.
The woman, referred to as Marie-Louise, had been bedridden for several months following a stroke. She was unable to move and was dependent on care. In the Minimes district, she was known as ‘the neighbourhood’s grandmother’.
A 34-year-old man was arrested at the scene. According to the British Express and GB News, he is a homeless Sudanese man who is said to have been residing illegally in France.
The prosecution has formally charged the man with murder preceded or followed by rape, and has requested that he be remanded in custody.
Neighbours heard screams and the sound of blows
According to Actu Toulouse, the man forced his way into the woman’s flat on Rue Biot, locked the door and went up to the floor where she was lying.
Shortly before 5 pm, neighbours heard screams and disturbing noises coming from the house.
– We heard it so clearly that we thought he was right nearby. It didn’t occur to us that the sounds could be coming from inside the house,” said a neighbour, as reported by Express and GB News.
– “We heard screams, swearing and then the sound of blows,”
The police entered the property and found blood on the floor and on a mattress. The woman was lying dead and undressed on the bathroom floor. The man who was arrested was also naked and is said to have been lying on top of her.
Extensive injuries
The public prosecutor in Toulouse, David Charmatz, stated on Tuesday that the post-mortem had revealed injuries consistent with sexual assault, a broken rib and a fracture to the spine, as well as several bruises on the face.
The woman also had traumatic injuries to her neck consistent with strangulation, according to the statement reported by Le Figaro.
GB News reports that investigators are examining whether the rape took place before or after the woman’s death.
At the time of his arrest, the suspect was “completely naked and highly agitated”, the prosecution service stated. He resisted arrest and injured one of the police officers who was attempting to subdue him.
– She’s known me since I was born
Marie-Louise died on the street where she had also grown up. She is said to have left the doors unlocked so that carers and relatives could easily get in.
Neighbours have laid flowers outside the house.
– It’s awful. She’s known me since I was born. We used to do her shopping for her, said a man in his 30s who lived next door, according to Express.
A friend of the woman said:
– She was already in need of care. She shouldn’t have had to end her days like that.
Le Figaro GB News Express actu.fr france3 franceinfo parismatch
