This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/father-accused-of-murdering-threeyearold-son-by-putting-him-in-a-washing-machine-in-france-10494745.html
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Father accused of murdering three-year-old son by putting him in a washing machine in France | Father accused of murdering three-year-old son by putting him in a washing machine in France |
(4 months later) | |
A father has been charged with murdering his own three-year-old son in France by locking him in a washing machine and switching it on. | A father has been charged with murdering his own three-year-old son in France by locking him in a washing machine and switching it on. |
Christophe Champenois, 36, allegedly put the boy, Bastien, into the drum and started a spin cycle, which fatally wounded him, before the machine was set to wash the body for up to an hour. | Christophe Champenois, 36, allegedly put the boy, Bastien, into the drum and started a spin cycle, which fatally wounded him, before the machine was set to wash the body for up to an hour. |
As Bastien screamed and begged for his parents to let him out, his father calmly surfed the internet, while his mother did a jigsaw puzzle with his five-year-old sister just metres away, Le Figaro reported. | As Bastien screamed and begged for his parents to let him out, his father calmly surfed the internet, while his mother did a jigsaw puzzle with his five-year-old sister just metres away, Le Figaro reported. |
When Champenois removed the lifeless body from the washing machine, he allegedly told Bastien's mother: "At least he won't bother us anymore." | When Champenois removed the lifeless body from the washing machine, he allegedly told Bastien's mother: "At least he won't bother us anymore." |
Champenois has been charged with aggravated murder, while Charlene Cotte has been accused of complicity in their son’s death on 25 November 2011. | |
Their trial started on Tuesday at the Court of Assizes in Melun, a south-eastern suburb of Paris. | Their trial started on Tuesday at the Court of Assizes in Melun, a south-eastern suburb of Paris. |
Champenois has claimed he suffers from alcoholism and illness causing memory problems, telling the court that he cannot remember the day of his son’s death. | Champenois has claimed he suffers from alcoholism and illness causing memory problems, telling the court that he cannot remember the day of his son’s death. |
He allegedly called emergency services from the family’s flat in Germigny-l’Eveque on the evening claiming the child had fallen down the stairs and then accidentally drowned in the bath, the Dauphiné Libéré reported. | He allegedly called emergency services from the family’s flat in Germigny-l’Eveque on the evening claiming the child had fallen down the stairs and then accidentally drowned in the bath, the Dauphiné Libéré reported. |
But when a neighbour arrived, the little boy’s older sister Marie told them: “Daddy put Bastien in the washing machine because he was naughty at school." | But when a neighbour arrived, the little boy’s older sister Marie told them: “Daddy put Bastien in the washing machine because he was naughty at school." |
She repeated the statement to the emergency services, unravelling her parents’ alleged lies. | |
Hours before, Cotte had informed Champenois that their son had been told off at school for flushing a fellow pupil’s drawing down the toilet. | Hours before, Cotte had informed Champenois that their son had been told off at school for flushing a fellow pupil’s drawing down the toilet. |
The mother told the court that she saw her partner put their son in the machine but denied aiding him, claiming she tried to stop Champenois but was shoved backwards. | The mother told the court that she saw her partner put their son in the machine but denied aiding him, claiming she tried to stop Champenois but was shoved backwards. |
The 29-year-old said her partner regularly beat Bastien, once locking the boy in a cupboard with his hands taped up so he could not escape, Liberation reported. | The 29-year-old said her partner regularly beat Bastien, once locking the boy in a cupboard with his hands taped up so he could not escape, Liberation reported. |
The case has raised concern about child protection policies in France after the revelation that the family had been known to social services for several years. | The case has raised concern about child protection policies in France after the revelation that the family had been known to social services for several years. |
On the evening before Bastien died, his father left a message for his social worker, saying: “I’m going to throw (Bastien) from the second floor, even if I get 15 years in prison.” | On the evening before Bastien died, his father left a message for his social worker, saying: “I’m going to throw (Bastien) from the second floor, even if I get 15 years in prison.” |
But the worker was on sick leave and did not hear the threat until the boy was already dead. | But the worker was on sick leave and did not hear the threat until the boy was already dead. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
Previous version
1
Next version