Halimi Family Asks Paris Appeals Court to Reopen 2017 Murder Probe

Overview

• Lawyers for Sarah Halimi’s relatives filed a request with the Paris Court of Appeal to reopen the judicial investigation into her 2017 killing.
• They say new material undermines the insanity ruling, citing alleged crack use before the attack, signs of planning, and an audio recording captured during the defenestration that points to antisemitic, aware intent.
• France’s Cour de cassation in 2021 upheld the decision not to hold a trial after psychiatric experts said the suspect had a brief psychotic episode, while recognizing the antisemitic nature of the act.
• In a separate case, Kobili Traoré was indicted and jailed in February over a January 27 assault and robbery, and a custody psychiatrist reported no acute delirious symptoms.
• Prosecutors detail years of psychiatric care since 2017, and under French law judges can reopen an inquiry if truly new facts appear, so the court will now review the submission.