Family held over ‘revenge’ killing of French boy

LILLE, France, March 20 (AFP) – Seven members of the same French family were under investigation Saturday in connection with the death of a 16-year-old boy whose body was discovered in a canal across the border in Belgium.

The seven – four men and three women – were suspected of acting out of revenge, following a dispute with the boy’s family, from the town of Wattrelos in northern France.

One woman faces a possible murder charge, while three others face possible charges of kidnapping and sequestration leading to death, and complicity to murder.

The remaining three are accused of obstructing the course of justice and failure to prevent a crime.An autopsy was due to be performed in Belgium, where divers recovered the boy’s body on Friday, to clarify the cause of his death.

All the suspects were initially held Friday after the body was found.Two were formally remanded in custody Saturday pending further investigation, and the others were likewise set to be remanded in custody later in the day, court sources said. The identities of the suspects were not revealed.

© AFP

                                                              Subject: France news