French Prosecutors Appeal Teacher's Acquittal in Evaëlle Harassment Case

The Pontoise court's acquittal of a teacher accused of harassment preceding an 11-year-old student's 2019 suicide faces renewed legal scrutiny after an appeal filed on April 14, 2025.

Evaëlle, an 11-year-old student, died by suicide in June 2019 after enduring months of harassment, including alleged mistreatment by her French teacher.
On April 10, 2025, the tribunal correctionnel of Pontoise acquitted the teacher, citing insufficient and inconsistent evidence to prove intentional misconduct.
Prosecutors had sought an 18-month suspended prison sentence and a permanent teaching ban, arguing the teacher’s actions catalyzed peer harassment.
The Parquet de Pontoise filed an appeal on April 14, 2025, reopening the case and allowing Evaëlle's parents to further voice their grievances.
The case has reignited national debates in France over teacher accountability, school harassment policies, and the balance between authority and abuse in education.