“my brain twisted, I thought it was him or me” explains Céline, 35, accused of murder and attack on the remains of her spouse
On the 4th day of the hearing, the victim’s company described their life together with him. From the romantic beginnings during the 2008 Armada to the violent disputes 10 years later. She admitted to having tried several times to kill him.
Céline V., beautician, was 21 when she met Sliman, young man whom she then described as “the charming prince”, a term that echoes the relatives of the victim describes him as a “ray of sunshine”. He is 14 years older. It was the summer of 2008, that of the Armada.
The young man is particularly romantic, he takes her by surprise to Honfleur and thinks of giving her flowers.
The birth of a child in 2015 would have changed the couple’s relationship, she explains. Sliman will not exclusively recognize his son. Céline V. talks about the occurrence of arguments and aggressiveness when her companion drank too much.
A separation that she thinks unrealizable
In 2018, the beautician explains that she decided to leave her companion. She understands that he will never let her. “My brain twisted” she says, “I understood that it was him or me.”
The accused continues and describes her attempts to end her companion’s life at their home.
In a full courtroom, the woman explains that she tried to put him to sleep with anxiolytics crushed in a dish, and to prick Sliman with a syringe filled with air, as seen in detective films. She also says she tried to suffocate him while he slept.
The psychiatric analysis of Céline V. revealed a personality “non-pathological”, according to an expert interviewed by the France press agency.
Céline V. presents a “balanced, mature personality with strong moral values” does not show “no sign of psychiatric or criminological danger”,the psychiatrist expert told the court by videoconference.
Asked by the President of the Assize Court, about the discrepancy between this portrait and the alleged facts, the expert explains that “when terror exceeds morality, we can switch to a passage to the act, Céline Vasselin recognizes an act of madness but does not present any psychiatric danger”.
“During this scenario, she perceived the assassination as the only possible outcome”analyzes the doctor, “he is an organized person, for her and her son it was the only solution to finally be safe“, according to the expertise which is based on the statements of the accused.
“The relationship of influence can be established here, in particular because of threats and recurring violence“revealed psychiatry”,“he was dependent on the victim”in a state “major anxiety.
The expert concluded on the lack of testimonies to accredit all this violence written by the accused: “the influence we never report to third parties, it is in the intimacy of the couple, when the door closes that they are brought to light”.
The trial continues Friday before the Assize Court of Seine-Maritime. The two accused, Céline V and her friend Jessica A. encourage life imprisonment.