A French couple is on trial in Bordeaux for allegedly planning to sacrifice their five-year-old son in the Sahara Desert of Morocco. Prosecutors assert that the father believed the child was “possessed” and intended to carry out a ritual act.
The couple, both music teachers, were arrested in late 2023 in southern Spain while preparing to board a ferry to Tangiers. They had sublet their apartment near Bordeaux and purchased a new four-wheel-drive vehicle in preparation for the trip.
Un couple, soupçonné d’avoir voulu « sacrifier » son fils de cinq ans dans le Sahara, le croyant « possédé », jugé à Bordeaux https://t.co/4HHU7zIRZ1
— Le Parisien (@le_Parisien) July 17, 2025A concerned relative informed prosecutors a few days earlier about the father’s comments regarding a potential sacrifice. The couple firmly denies the allegations, claiming they had no intention of harming their child. Their defence emphasises their “anti-system” and “mystical” beliefs, but they reject any accusations of criminal conspiracy or parental neglect.
Prosecutors accuse the pair of criminal conspiracy and failing parental duties. The father allegedly planned the desert ritual to “sacrifice” the boy due to possession beliefs. The investigation stemmed from a relative’s tip-off, leading to their arrest before they entered Morocco.
The couple’s actions—subletting their home and purchasing the vehicle—suggested a long-term trip, but authorities viewed them as preparation for the alleged act.
Couple 'planned to travel to Morocco to sacrifice their five-year-old son in the desert' https://t.co/fVfqXmXwSx
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) July 17, 2025The father, Florian L., denies making the statements, per his lawyer Audrey Boussillon: “Never did he have the intention to harm his son in any way.” The mother’s attorney, Aurelie Filippi-Codaccioni, explained they visited Morocco two years prior and planned an indefinite return.
Defence teams argue the couple’s beliefs do not equate to criminal intent. They vehemently reject gang involvement or parental neglect.
The child, now in maternal grandparents’ custody, reportedly spoke of “being cold, scared and removing the snake within us,” raising concerns about endangerment from the parents’ views. Lawyer Merlene Labadie, representing the child’s interests, stated these beliefs posed risks.
