A court in Montpellier, France, has sentenced a French mother to life imprisonment for the death of her 13-year-old daughter, Amandine, who died in 2020 due to prolonged abuse and neglect.
Sandrine Pissarra, 54, was found guilty of subjecting her daughter to severe mistreatment, leading to Amandine’s death from a heart attack after years of suffering.
The court heard evidence from witnesses and experts, who described the harsh conditions Amandine lived under.
Despite several signs of distress, social services reportedly failed to intervene, shedding light on systemic failures that allowed the tragedy to unfold.
During the trial, Pissarra denied the charges, arguing that any signs of maltreatment were not indicative of abuse.
However, prosecutors presented compelling evidence showing a consistent pattern of neglect and cruelty that contributed to the child’s deteriorating health.
Healthcare professionals who had interacted with Amandine expressed regret for not identifying the signs of abuse earlier.
