78‑year-old acquitted for wife's mercy killing sparks euthanasia debate
On Wednesday, 78-year-old Bernard Pallot was acquitted by the court in Troyes of the charge of murdering his seriously ill wife, Suzanne. He acted to shorten her suffering. After the verdict was announced, the man called for the legalization of euthanasia, which reignited the discussion on this topic in France.
2:38 PM EDT, November 1, 2024
Pallot’s trial, which began on October 28 in the Aube department, captured the attention of the entire country. The man admitted to ending his wife's life, claiming he wanted to relieve her suffering. After being acquitted he commented: "This trial shows that the current law is insufficient. The law absolutely needs to change."
The dramatic events took place on October 11, 2021, in Isle-Aumont. Pallot injected Suzanne with cyanide in her thigh because her life had become, as he said, "unbearable." When this measure proved ineffective, he used a cable. "It may seem a bit savage as a method, but I had no choice," he testified during interrogation.
He killed his wife. He was acquitted
Upon the police's arrival, Pallot admitted to the act without resistance. His acquittal by the jury sparked a wave of comments and once again directed public attention to the issue of euthanasia legalization.
Olivier Falorni, a member of the centrist Democrats Group in the National Assembly and a supporter of changing the law, stated in an interview with France Info: "Through this court decision, the French are addressing deputies and senators and asking them to change the laws."
Work on the "end of life" law, aiming to legalize euthanasia in certain cases, has been suspended since June. The case of Bernard Pallot reopens the debate on the right to a dignified death and raises questions about the legislators' responsibility towards those suffering. The decision now lies in the hands of French parliamentarians, who must respond to the growing expectations of society.
