Trial of Amandine: A Mother Silent in the Face of Devastating Evidence of a Family Tragedy

Second day of the trial at the Hérault Assize Court: a 13-year-old girl, starved to death in 2020, at the center of the hearings

On Tuesday, January 21, Sandrine P., 54, mother of Amandine, once again denied responsibility for her daughter’s death. The teenager died at the age of 13 under horrific circumstances. Starved and abused in the family home in Montblanc, near Béziers, Amandine weighed only 28 kg (61 lbs) at a height of 1.55 meters (5 ft 1 in) when she succumbed to cardiac arrest on August 6, 2020.

Sandrine P., standing trial for “acts of torture or barbarity resulting in death without intent to kill,” faces life imprisonment. Held in pretrial detention since 2021, she continues to claim that her daughter deliberately deprived herself of food.

Unbearable Evidence at the Heart of the Trial

During the hearing, the presiding judge, Éric Emmanuelidis, confronted Sandrine P. with harrowing photos. The first image, from the 2019 school year, showed Amandine with a “pretty face, albeit without much of a smile.”

The next photos depicted the teenager on the day of her death: a body lying on the floor, emaciated and covered in bruises. A close-up revealed her face: sunken cheeks, hollow eye sockets, hair torn out, and broken teeth.

“What did you do to her?” the judge asked. Sandrine P. remained silent, her gaze fixed.

“She deprived herself of food,” she finally muttered. “And she broke her own teeth too?” the judge retorted. Still, no answers came

A Heart-Wrenching Testimony from an Older Sister

Called to the stand, Cassandra, 28, Amandine’s half-sister, described their childhood as “hell on earth.” She recounted enduring food deprivation and violence herself before Amandine became the main victim.

After Amandine’s death, “it was as if she had never existed in that house,” Cassandra recalled. Her testimony painted a picture of a household rife with cruelty and neglect.

An Apparently Ordinary Family

Sandrine P., mother of eight children from three relationships, lived with her partner at the time, a 49-year-old auto inspection center manager. Together, they had purchased a home in Hérault, presenting the appearance of an ordinary family.

However, the trial seeks to uncover their respective roles in this tragedy. Sandrine P. is accused of starving her daughter, while her partner is on trial for turning a blind eye to the abuse. He faces up to 30 years in prison.

A Verdict Approaches

Throughout the week, jurors will attempt to understand the mother’s psychology and determine the exact responsibilities in this family tragedy. The verdict is expected on Friday, January 24.