Patrice Charlemagne’s partner is an academic and municipal councilor in Dunkirk. She was placed in pre-trial detention on Friday after “admitting to having stabbed her husband”, according to the prosecutor.
By The editorial team with AFP – 16:09 | updated at 5:39 p.m.
She had alerted the police claiming to have been the victim of a burglary fatal to her partner, a university professor: Justine Jotham, an academic and municipal councilor in Dunkirk, confessed to having killed her companion Patrice Charlemagne. She was indicted for “assassination” and placed in pre-trial detention, Dunkirk prosecutor Charlotte Huet said on Friday.
The suspect “admitted having stabbed her husband,” said the prosecutor, who did not give details of the motive.
A doctor and lecturer in literature, the thirty-year-old is among the teacher-researchers at the University of Littoral Côte d’Opale, where the deceased, aged 51, also taught.
Close to the new Minister of Housing
Elected in 2020 on the list of the mayor of Dunkirk, Patrice Vergriete – appointed Minister of Housing last July -, she is a municipal councilor responsible for public reading and heritage. She is also a children’s author and runs a cultural association promoting reading.
“Writer, novelist, she started out in literature with children’s books, scouring the region’s book fairs, speaking in libraries, schools, colleges, high schools, cultural centers, organizing meetings with local authors “, reports La Voix du Nord.
On his Facebook pageJustine Jotham displayed in January 2022 an image of family happiness after the birth of their little daughter, by PMA.
The death of Patrice Charlemagne, very involved in local life, sparked a flood of tributes on social networks, and messages of condolence to his wife.
“Our city was affected last night by a terrible tragedy which cost the life of a Dunkirk resident. I want to express my deep emotion and my shock,” Patrice Vergriete reacted on Facebook on Monday, presenting his “most sincere condolences” to the victim’s loved ones.
“It surprised us all, like all of Dunkirk,” reacted to the announcement of his confession Guillaume Vittu, the mayor’s chief of staff. “We didn’t mix much, she was a delegated municipal councilor,” he said.
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