Trial Begins for Ex-Partner Accused in Sandra Pla's 2021 Feminicide

Sandra Pla, who sought legal protection against her ex-partner, was killed in 2021; the accused claims no intent to kill as the trial unfolds in Bordeaux.

Sandra Pla, 31, was found dead in her Bordeaux apartment in July 2021 after suffering over 50 stab wounds, including to her neck and face.
Her ex-partner, Mickaël Falou, admitted to the killing but denies premeditation, claiming he only sought confrontation over custody disputes.
Pla had filed multiple complaints about domestic violence and harassment, including 67 calls and over 200 texts from Falou in the months leading to her death.
Despite her warnings to authorities and a letter to the French President, her requests for protection were dismissed or inadequately addressed.
The trial, expected to conclude by January 31, also highlights systemic failures in addressing domestic violence cases in France.