2024-10-31 10:14:00
“I am not a murderer” : Bernard Pallot, 78, was acquitted on Wednesday October 31 in Troyes where he had been on trial since Monday for the murder of his sick wife Suzanne, whom he admits to having strangled, so that she would no longer suffer.
“This trial testifies to the inadequacy of the law which puts us, the individuals, in difficult situations”Bernard Pallot calmly explained after the verdict. “I am not alone in this case, the law absolutely must evolve. We are in the country of human rights, normally”added this retiree.
The right to die “is a freedom that we do not yet have”continued his lawyer, Frédéric Verra. The court “made it known that the acts had been committed. It’s indisputable. But that on the other hand there was an excuse of irresponsibility, which was the constraint linked to the situation”he explained.
On October 11, 2021, this retired IUT professor, with a clean criminal record, injected cyanide into the thigh of his wife, whose life was not according to him. “more bearable”to kill her, without succeeding. SO, “in improvisation”he grabbed a piece of electrical wire from the garage of their home in Isle-Aumont and held it around his neck for around twenty minutes. “It seems a bit wild as a method, but I had no choice”he said during the investigation.
“It was I who killed my wife”
When the gendarmes arrived, the training engineer declared: “I was the one who killed my wife. » He claims to have acted “for love” et “at his request” pour “prevent her from suffering”.
But for the attorney general, Mickaël Le Nouy, this assassination, “presented as a gesture of love, is a gesture prohibited by law” et “we cannot arrogate to ourselves the right to kill”. Bernard Pallot, tried before the Aube Assize Court, “acted in a determined, cold and violent manner”had estimated the Advocate General. He had requested eight years in prison.
The defense had summoned Olivier Falorni, general rapporteur of the end-of-life bill whose examination was suspended by the dissolution of the National Assembly, but he did not appear, not wishing to “put pressure on the court”regretted the lawyer of the accused.
If euthanasia were legal, “Bernard Pallot would not have strangled his wife with an electric wire”argued the lawyer.
Suzanne Pallot, also in her seventies, suffered from several pathologies, notably Carrington’s disease, a chronic lung disease, and osteoporosis, with multiple fractures, including one of the neck of the femur which occurred shortly before the events.
Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers End of life: Michel Barnier wants to resume “dialogue” rather than the bill
Read later
“He did what she wanted and not what he wanted”
During interrogation, Bernard Pallot affirmed that for him it was a « euthanasia » requested by his wife, to whom he had been married since 1969. Near his body, a note was found: “I, the undersigned, Pallot Suzanne, still of sound mind, ask my husband, Bernard Pallot, to relieve me definitively of the incurable suffering that I endure. »
The World Workshops
Online courses, evening classes, workshops: develop your skills
Discover
The retiree claims to understand the seriousness of his act “with respect to the laws of the Republic”but believes he has “kept his promises” towards his wife. According to him, Suzanne, whom he looked after on a daily basis, did not want to return to the hospital where she felt “badly surrounded”.
To a friend, the accused will say: “In France we cannot euthanize people who are suffering, but we do it for animals. »
As part of the investigation, an expert psychologist described a form of submission by the husband towards his wife, whom he did not dare to contradict or reason with. “He did what she wanted and not what he wanted”estimated a psychologist expert on Wednesday.
On the day she died, Suzanne said goodbye to her only son over the phone. Before the investigating judge, this son declared that his father had murdered his mother “out of love, out of compassion”. “I am not a murderer, if I am convicted, we will have confused love and hatred”declared the accused before the court withdrew to decide his fate.
Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers Members of Ultime Liberté soon to be tried for having imported suicide aid drugs
Read later
Reuse this content
1730371188
#murdering #sick #wife #septuagenarian #acquitted
**Interview with Bernard Pallot Post-Acquittal**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Pallot. How are you feeling after your acquittal?
**Bernard Pallot:** Thank you for having me. I feel relieved, of course, but the emotions are complicated. I want people to understand my actions were driven by love, not malice.
**Interviewer:** You admitted to strangling your wife, Suzanne, to relieve her suffering. Can you explain what led you to that moment?
**Bernard Pallot:** Suzanne was in chronic pain for years. Her suffering was unbearable for her and for me to witness. I tried everything to help her, but nothing worked. I believed I was granting her a wish, an eternal peace.
**Interviewer:** Some have called your actions a crime, despite your claims of love and compassion. How do you respond to that?
**Bernard Pallot:** I understand there are laws, but this trial highlights a significant issue in our legal system. We need to have a conversation about the right to die—something that’s currently not respected in our country.
**Interviewer:** Your lawyer mentioned that your case calls for the evolution of law regarding end-of-life choices. What changes do you hope for?
**Bernard Pallot:** It’s essential to establish a legal framework for euthanasia or assisted dying. People like Suzanne should have the freedom to choose how they end their suffering. This isn’t about taking lives; it’s about compassion and respecting wishes.
**Interviewer:** After the verdict, you said you are not alone in facing such issues. Can you elaborate?
**Bernard Pallot:** There are many families caught in similar situations. The law must evolve to protect individuals who act out of love during tragic circumstances, rather than punishing them. This trial was not just about me; it’s about societal empathy and understanding.
**Interviewer:** Do you believe society will be more open to these discussions after your case?
**Bernard Pallot:** I hope so. This trial was a start, but there’s a long way to go. Conversations about end-of-life rights must continue. It’s about recognizing the dignity of individuals in their final days.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mr. Pallot, for sharing your thoughts with us. We appreciate your willingness to discuss such a profound topic.
**Bernard Pallot:** Thank you for having me. I hope my story leads to positive changes.
