Two more minors suspected of being involved in the assault on Samara, a 13-year-old living in Montpellier, have been charged with attempted murder of a minor under 15, according to the public prosecutor’s office on Wednesday, April 24th. One of them has been placed under judicial control. This brings the total number of minors charged with attempted murder in this case to five, after two boys and a girl aged 14 and 15 were arrested on April 3rd, the day after the assault near Samara’s school. Samara, who came out of a coma the day after the assault, is now receiving support to continue her studies remotely.
The education authorities have announced that “preventive measures have been immediately taken” against the two newly charged minors, and “pending their imminent disciplinary hearing, access to their respective schools is strictly prohibited.” The three students who were previously implicated in the assault will also face disciplinary action. The assault took place “in the context of a group of teenagers who were known to be hostile towards each other on social media,” as explained by the prosecutor earlier.
In the media, the mother of the young girl hinted that the violence had a religious dimension, claiming that Samara was called a “non-believer,” although this has not been confirmed by the prosecutor at this point. She also accused the school staff of not taking sufficient measures to protect her daughter. The teachers at Arthur-Rimbaud middle school, located in a working-class neighborhood, refused to teach on Monday, the day of the new school term, “outraged” by these “defamatory statements” circulated in the media and the “political manipulation” of the case.
They also criticized comments made by their minister, Nicole Belloubet, who simply stated that “her hand would not shake,” interpreting this as a lack of support for their work, particularly in combatting bullying in schools. They returned to work on Tuesday. The investigation ordered by the Minister of Education, as well as the judicial investigation, will help clarify the facts and define responsibilities, according to the rector of the Montpellier academy, Sophie Béjean.
Overall, the case of the assault on Samara has raised concerns about the safety of minors in schools and the role of schools in preventing such incidents. It has also highlighted the importance of social media education for young people to prevent cyberbullying and online harassment. The reactions of the education authorities, law enforcement, and the community in response to this case will likely have far-reaching implications for future cases of this nature and the protection of minors in society. Efforts to address these issues and ensure the safety of all students will be closely monitored going forward.
