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French couple charged after ‘rocking’ baby in a washing machine

A 19-year-old woman and her 22-year-old partner have been charged after they admitted to putting a 15-month-old girl into a washing machine to "rock her".

Published: 16 March 2017 09:19 CET

French couple charged after 'rocking' baby in a washing machine

Photo: Bart Everson/Flickr

The disturbing story emerged from Perpignan, on the southern coast of France, on Wednesday after the man confessed to putting the baby into the washing machine because he wanted to “rock it”, as one might in a cradle.

He did not switch on the machine, but “manually turned it” while the door was open, reported L'Express newspaper.

The case was brought to the attention of authorities after the mother brought the child into hospital, claiming the infant's bruises were from a fall.

Doctors suspected foul play and contacted police.

The man was charged for aggravated violence on a child as well as domestic violence.

The mother, who was also taken into custody, admitted that her partner had put the baby in the machine and that she hadn't done anything to stop him.

She added that she had been terrified after the partner threatened to kill her. She has been charged with failing to prevent a crime.

The man denies all accusations, saying he just wanted to “rock the baby”.

The baby girl was taken into social care.

French parliament to investigate sexual abuse in cinema

The Assemblée nationale unanimously agreed to set up the commission demanded by actor Judith Godreche in a speech to the upper house, the Senate, in February.

The 52-year-old actor and director has become a key figure in France’s MeToo movement since accusing directors Benoit Jacquot and Jacques Doillon of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager. Both have denied the allegations.

All 52 lawmakers present for the vote on Thursday approved the creation of the commission, watched by Godreche, who was present in the public gallery in the chamber.

“It’s time to stop laying out the red carpet for abusers,” said Greens lawmaker Francesca Pasquini.

The new commission is to look into “the condition of minors in the various sectors of cinema, television, theatre, fashion and advertising”, as well as that of adults working in them, it said.

On the basis of Godreche’s proposal, a parliamentary commission on culture decided to extend the scope of the inquiry to also include other cultural sectors.

It is to “identify the mechanisms and failings that allow these potential abuses and violences”, “establish responsibilities” and make recommendations.

The parliament vote comes a day after actor Isild Le Besco, 41, said in an autobiography she was also raped by Jacquot during a relationship that started when she was 16, but was not ready to press charges.

Godreche, by contrast, has filed a legal complaint against the prominent arthouse director, over alleged abuse that occurred during a relationship that began when she was 14 and he was 25 years her senior.

She has also formally accused Doillon of abusing her as a 15-year-old actress in a film he directed.

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