Teacher Faces Prison Sentence in Landmark French School Harassment Case

A French teacher is accused of contributing to the suicide of 11-year-old Evaëlle in 2019 through alleged harassment, with prosecutors seeking an 18-month suspended sentence and a lifetime teaching ban.

Evaëlle, an 11-year-old student, died by suicide in 2019 after enduring harassment from peers and alleged mistreatment by her French teacher, Pascale B., at a school in Herblay-sur-Seine.
The teacher, now on trial, is accused of humiliating and isolating Evaëlle, which prosecutors argue encouraged other students to bully her further.
Prosecutors have requested an 18-month suspended prison sentence and a permanent ban from teaching for the 62-year-old teacher, citing a pattern of abusive behavior towards multiple students.
The defense argues that the teacher did not intentionally humiliate Evaëlle and that the accusations lack concrete evidence, pointing to her 30-year career without prior incidents.
The court is set to deliver its verdict on April 10, while two students accused of bullying Evaëlle will face a juvenile court later this year.