Aged 27, the auxiliary had been on a permanent contract in this nursery since March. Her lawyer says she was going through a complicated time.
An 11-month-old baby died last Wednesday in a private crèche of the People&Baby network, located in the 3rd arrondissement of Lyon. An employee of the establishment admitted to having sprayed him with a “caustic product” before making him ingest it, saying she was “overwhelmed” by the crying of the infant.
The suspect was indicted on Friday evening for “intentional homicide of a minor under 15”. She has since been placed in pre-trial detention at Lyon Corbas prison.
On permanent contract since March
A graduate of a CAP Petit Enfance, the assistant had worked for ten years with children and had undergone child protection training last April. Aged 27, she joined the People&Baby crèche in the 3rd arrondissement of Lyon on a permanent contract in March 2022.
The respondent has never had a problem with the law and has a clean criminal record. The management of the People & Baby network ensures that nothing could predict such an act.
A period of instability
For her part, her lawyer describes her at the microphone of BFM Lyon, as a fragile person who was going through a period of instability.
“Her boyfriend is in detention and hasn’t corresponded with her for some time. She hadn’t received any letters for some time. She was quite disturbed by that. She wasn’t sleeping, she was just asking for that,” explains master Philippe Duplan, lawyer of the young woman.
Between her personal difficulties and the degraded working conditions, her lawyer explains that she would have “disconnected”. He mentions a “shot of nervousness with dramatic consequences” but affirms that she did not intend to kill the baby.
Psychiatric expertise requested
Regarding the rest of the investigation, hearings with the family, friends and neighborhood of the respondent will take place. The latter will also have to pass a psychiatric and psychological expertise.
The auxiliary risks life imprisonment unless the expertise requested shows an alteration or abolition of discernment.