Samuel Paty Trial: Teen Behind False Claims Issues Apology

The student whose fabricated story led to the teacher's murder in 2020 expressed regret in court, acknowledging her role in the tragedy.

The 17-year-old, who was 13 at the time of the incident, apologized to Samuel Paty's family, saying she 'destroyed their lives.'
She admitted to fabricating the story that her teacher had shown offensive caricatures and discriminated against Muslim students, which led to her father's viral video campaign.
Her false claims were a response to an unrelated disciplinary action at school, which she sought to justify to her parents.
The teenager was previously convicted in 2023 for 'denunciation calomnieuse' (false accusations) and sentenced to 18 months of probation.
The family of Samuel Paty and their lawyers expressed skepticism about the sincerity of her apology, questioning inconsistencies in her testimony.