Europe 1 with AFP
A man killed his 22-year-old partner, with whom he had two small children, on Wednesday in Noumea, before fatally injuring himself in the throat with a shotgun. Separated since July, he had recently stayed at the victim’s home, suggesting a resumption of living together.
A 22-year-old woman was shot and killed on Wednesday by her partner, who then committed suicide, the Nouméa public prosecutor announced on Thursday, adding that an investigation for intentional homicide on a spouse had been opened. The drama took place in a tribe of Païta, in the agglomeration of Nouméa.
Alerted by a shot fired outside around noon, several members of the same family discovered the lifeless body of a young woman on the terrace of a neighboring house. A Winchester-type rifle was found nearby.
Two toddlers
According to prosecutor Yves Dupas, these witnesses told investigators of having seen his partner flee by car. He was seen ten minutes later carrying a hunting rifle which he turned against him and fatally injured his throat.
The first elements of the investigation established that the couple, who had two small children, had separated in July. But the man “stayed recently at the victim’s home, suggesting a resumption of life together,” said Yves Dupas. The prosecution ordered an autopsy.