Parents Indicted for Torture in 30-Year-Old ’A10 Highway Child Murder’ Case

According to concordant sources, the investigation chamber of the Orléans Court of Appeal, in its decision, ordered additional investigation, reports franceinfo. The judges are asking the investigating judge to indict Inass’ parents - Ahmed Touloub, 70, and Halima El Bakhti, 68 - for "acts of torture and barbarity" and to question them on certain points in the file that deserve to be clarified. The investigating judge in Blois has more than a month (until May 26) to carry out additional investigations. Once the additional investigation has been obtained, the Court of Appeal will decide on the judicial follow-up, and any grounds for referral to the Assize Court.

"This decision corresponds to the reality of the file," reacts Agathe Morel, lawyer for the association Enfance et Partage, assuring that "certain acts fall under acts of torture and barbarity."

In November 2022, the investigating judge in Blois (Loir-et-Cher) in charge of the case had decided to refer Inass’ parents to the Assize Court: her mother, Halima El Bakhti, for "intentional violence resulting in death without intent to kill" and her father, Ahmed Touloub, for "complicity". Considering that it was a murder, the Blois prosecutor had appealed.