A French assize court has handed down the maximum sentence to a father convicted of killing his three daughters in Alfortville, a commune in the Val-de-Marne department near Paris. The verdict, delivered in April 2026, concluded one of the most harrowing domestic homicide trials in recent French memory.
The defendant, who admitted to the killings, told the court he would "live with his guilt for the rest of his life." Defense attorney Me Baptiste Hervieux had appealed for leniency during his closing argument, describing the future the convicted man faced in prison — unable to enjoy simple freedoms such as having coffee at a café, dining on a restaurant terrace, or visiting a friend or a hospitalized loved one.
The prosecution and victims' families had pushed for the maximum penalty, arguing that the premeditated nature of the crime and its devastating impact on the family left no room for clemency. The case drew widespread attention in France amid ongoing national debates about femicide and violence against women and children within the family home.
French authorities have in recent years increased efforts to combat domestic violence, following high-profile cases that prompted legislative reforms and greater public awareness. The Alfortville case is expected to further fuel calls for stronger protective measures for children in at-risk households.
