by Temitope Oladeji
13/6/2025
A 14-year-old schoolboy has been formally charged with the murder of a teaching assistant, prosecutors announced on Thursday, as schools across France observed a nationwide minute of silence in tribute to the murdered teacher.
The teenager was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly stabbing the 31-year-old school monitor identified only as Mélanie during a routine bag check at a secondary school in the eastern French town of Nogent.
The victim, a mother of a young child, died from her injuries at the scene.
Prosecutors in the city of Dijon confirmed the boy had been charged with the “murder of a person in a position of authority”, an offense that carries an aggravated penalty under French law.
The suspect was also designated a person of interest in the assault of a gendarme during his arrest shortly after the fatal attack.
Regional prosecutor Denis Devallois said the suspect admitted to being the perpetrator and stated he “intended to kill.”
Investigators also believe that the teen was motivated by a desire for revenge after being disciplined days earlier for kissing his girlfriend at school.
According to prosecutors, he did not specifically target Mélanie but intended to harm “any” staff member.
As a minor, the boy faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, as opposed to life imprisonment, which applies to adults under French criminal law.
The incident has sparked widespread grief and concern across France.
A minute of silence was held at schools nationwide on Thursday to honor Mélanie’s memory.
President Emmanuel Macron addressed the tragedy during a cabinet meeting, condemning what he described as a troubling rise in youth violence in the country.
French government spokesperson Sophie Primas said the president noted “a disinhibition around violence in our country,” and emphasized the urgent need for effective solutions.
France has witnessed several violent incidents in schools in recent years, including attacks against teachers and students by pupils.
This latest case has once again raised national alarm over safety in educational institutions and the growing aggression among young people.