A French educator is set to appear in court this week, facing serious allegations of harassment related to the tragic case of an 11-year-old student who took her own life three years ago. The trial, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, centers on accusations made by the parents of Evaëlle, a young girl who reportedly endured significant emotional distress while attending school.
The heart-wrenching incident occurred in June 2019, when Evaëlle’s father discovered his daughter deceased in her bedroom in Herblay-sur-Seine, a suburb located northwest of Paris. Following her death, he found diaries that revealed the extent of her suffering, detailing the names of individuals who had harassed her during her time at school.
Allegations of bullying and humiliation
Among those named in her diaries was a teacher, who has strongly denied the allegations of harassment. According to a court referral order reviewed by French media outlet FranceInfo, the teacher is accused of “regularly humiliating her in front of the class.” The document further outlines that this “repeated behaviour” contributed to a “very significant deterioration in the living conditions of the young girl, who became increasingly isolated and defensive.”
Evaëlle attended the secondary school in the Val-d’Oise department for a brief period, specifically from September 2018 until February 2019. Following the distressing reports from their daughter, her parents took decisive action by filing a police complaint against the teacher and subsequently transferring Evaëlle to a different school.
Legal proceedings unfold
The Pontoise Criminal Court now holds the responsibility of adjudicating this deeply troubling case, which highlights the ongoing issues surrounding bullying in educational environments. The outcome of the trial may bring some measure of justice to Evaëlle’s family as they seek answers and accountability for the circumstances that led to their daughter’s untimely death.
“Regularly humiliated her in front of the class”