Laura Rapp was the victim of an attempted murder by her violent husband in 2018. Sentenced to eight years in prison, she has just learned that he will be released, even though he continues to threaten her from her cell.
On the night of April 16 to 17, 2018, Laura Rapp narrowly escaped an attempted murder. Her husband, Frederic, tries to strangle him in front of their 2-year-old daughter, Alice. She is saved in extremis by neighbors. Despite the risks, the man is released under judicial supervision pending trial. For 3 months, he threatens and stalks Laura and Alice, with complete impunity. It’s a cry for help on twitter that saves her. Journalists contact her, articles are published, she becomes a face of the fight against domestic violence and the man is placed in pre-trial detention. He is sentenced to eight years of criminal imprisonment and 5 years of socio-judicial follow-up. From jail, he never stopped making threats against his ex.
Already two years ago, Frédéric asked for a first sentence adjustment. He then clearly indicates to the young woman that he knows her new address. Laura Rapp had to flee, her daughter and a few things under her arm. In two weeks, she was gone. With the help of her parents, she found a new home, hidden somewhere near the sea. At that time, the sentence was refused. But on March 6, the news fell: this time, her violent husband will be released on semi-freedom.
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An incomprehensible decision for Laura and her loved ones
For Laura, the news had the effect of a cold shower. Migraine, anxiety, she takes antidepressants and wonders if she still has to find a new place to flee her executioner. The young woman and her relatives do not understand the court’s decision. During the hearing, Frédéric was still aggressive, as told by Me Arnaud Godefroy, Laura Rapp’s lawyer, for Paris Match. “He challenged his conviction, finding that he was guilty of assault but not of attempted homicide. And when he spoke of Laura, he always said ‘my victim’, it was striking. He showed that he continued to have a desire for ownership and control over his ex-companion.” These elements had led the magistrate to formally oppose his release.
However, Frédéric will be on day parole until the end of his sentence, in three years. Until then, he has no right to come into contact with Laura and her daughter in any way. This ban does not diminish the concern of the young woman, convinced that he could start again. Laura feels abandoned by justice: “Is this the fight against domestic violence? In fact, we are just file numbers”she said to Paris Match. In France, between 2020 and 2021, feminicides increased by almost 20%. One in three victims had already suffered domestic violence and more than half had already reported their violence to the police.