France, June 9 -- The mother of a 10-year-old girl, who filed a complaint in 2025 against Jerome Barella for the rape of a minor, will bring a lawsuit against the French state for gross negligence, and against the Minister of Justice, Gerald Darmanin, her lawyer Pierre Debuisson told RTL radio on Tuesday.

She has criticised the justice system for its slow handling of her complaint.

The lawyer said two legal proceedings would be undertaken: a claim against the state for gross negligence before the civil court, and a criminal case.

Barella is the main suspect in the murder of Lyhanna, an 11-year-old middle school student who went missing after school on 29 May in her hometown of Fleurance, north-west of Toulouse.

Her body was discovered...