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🇫🇷 France /Crime & Justice

Haute-Marne: Trial opens for middle schooler accused of murdering a supervisor

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • A trial opens Wednesday in Chaumont for a 14-year-old boy accused of fatally stabbing a 31-year-old female supervisor at his middle school in June 2025.
  • The murder, which occurred in the usually peaceful town of Nogent, sent shockwaves through educational and political circles in France.
  • The teenager reportedly had no specific grievance against the victim, stating he targeted a supervisor generally due to their behavior towards students.

The trial of a teenager accused of murdering a school supervisor in France begins Wednesday in Chaumont. Quentin G., then 14 years old, faces charges for the fatal stabbing of Mélanie, a 31-year-old educational assistant, at the Françoise-Dolto middle school in Nogent, Haute-Marne, on June 10, 2025.

He did not support 'the behavior of the supervisors in general' in his establishment, who according to him, would have had 'a different attitude depending on the students'.

— Prosecutor Denis DevalloisReporting on Quentin G.'s alleged reasons for targeting a supervisor, as stated during the investigation.

The incident, which occurred in the typically tranquil town of 3,500 inhabitants, sent a shockwave through French educational and political communities. It was part of a series of knife attacks in schools across the country. The murder happened as gendarmes were conducting an unexpected bag check for weapons at the school entrance, a measure that led to the immediate apprehension of Quentin G. by a gendarme, who sustained a hand injury during the arrest.

During his initial police questioning, the student reportedly expressed no particular animosity towards Mélanie. He stated his intention was to attack any supervisor, citing general dissatisfaction with their conduct towards students. The prosecutor's office at the time noted that Quentin G., who came from a professionally stable family and had no prior judicial record, appeared to have planned the act days in advance, possibly after being reprimanded by another supervisor for kissing his girlfriend on school grounds.

Quentin G. showed no signs of mental disorder during police custody, expressed no regret or compassion for the victims, and displayed a certain fascination with violence and death.

— Prosecutor Denis DevalloisDescribing the teenager's demeanor and psychological state as assessed by investigators at the time.

Authorities observed that the teenager showed no signs of mental disorder during questioning, expressed no remorse or compassion for the victim, and displayed a fascination with violence. His lawyer, however, urged caution, emphasizing the need for psychological and psychiatric evaluations before drawing conclusions. The trial is expected to be closely watched, though it will be held behind closed doors due to the defendant's age.

He appears to have lost his bearings regarding the value of human life, to which he does not seem to attach particular importance.

— Prosecutor Denis DevalloisAssessing the teenager's perceived detachment from the value of human life during the initial investigation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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