School murder scandal shocks France

LONDON. November 22. KAZINFORM The French government has condemned the judiciary's handling of a teenager accused of rape who went on to murder a girl from his boarding school; Kazinform refers to BBC.

The boy, identified as Mathieu M, 17, had spent four months in jail for raping a minor in southern France.

He had been under judicial supervision. The school said it had not been fully aware of his past.

Last Friday, the body of Agnes, 13, was found in a forest close to the school. She had been raped and burned.

'Sexual aggression'

Agnes's mother, Paola Marin, said she would not have died "but for a little less negligence" from the school.

The victim's father, Frederic Marin, alleged that the school, Cevenol International in Chambon-sur-Lignon, had been aware of the boy's history and that he had problems involving "acts of sexual aggression".

Head teacher Philippe Bauwens told French radio station RTL that the school was aware the boy had had problems with the judiciary but did not know their nature.

"We had no contact with the judicial authorities," he said.

'Dysfunction'

After an emergency meeting with fellow ministers on Monday, French Interior Minister Claude Gueant told TF1 television that "there had been a dysfunction" in the case and that reform of the justice system for minors would be a priority after elections next spring; Kazinform cites BBC.

To learn more go to www.bbc.co.uk