Former legionnaire detained for ex-partner's murder in Vaucluse

A 54-year-old former legionnaire has been placed in provisional detention for the violent murder of his ex-partner in Bollène, Vaucluse. The victim was found with numerous head injuries, some of which indicated the use of a sharp object, according to the Avignon public prosecutor's office.

The man, who had previously been a local election candidate for the Rassemblement National, was already known to authorities. He had been arrested in June for domestic violence against the same victim following their separation and was under judicial supervision, with a court appearance scheduled for November.

Despite previous incidents, no further violence had been reported since June, and the victim had been granted additional protection measures, including a "grave danger" phone and a protection order from a family court judge. The couple's two children, originally from the Czech Republic, are now in the care of child protective services.

The case highlights a concerning rise in femicides in France, with 107 women killed by their partners or ex-partners in 2024, an 11% increase from the previous year, according to the Interministerial Mission for the Protection of Women.