A French woman, Sandrine Pissarra, has been sentenced to life in prison for the abuse and starvation of her 13-year-old daughter, Amandine, who died of a heart attack in 2020. Pissarra, 54, was convicted of torture and barbarity after years of mistreatment of her daughter, who suffered extreme physical abuse, including blows with objects, kicks, punches, hair-pulling, and verbal insults. Amandine, who weighed only 28 kilograms at the time of her death, had been deprived of food and confined in a windowless room.
The court determined that Pissarra must serve a minimum of 20 years before becoming eligible for parole. The sentence, which aligns with the prosecution’s demands, was handed down by three professional judges and a jury of six members of the public.
Pissarra’s ex-partner, Jean-Michel Cros, 49, was sentenced to 20 years for depriving Amandine of care. His sentence, which carries no parole possibility, was harsher than the 18 years sought by prosecutors but less than the potential 30 years he could have faced. Amandine’s death, which occurred on August 6, 2020, revealed the extent of her suffering, including severe weight and muscle loss, septicaemia, and a number of physical injuries. Prosecutors labeled Pissarra as a “domestic tyrant” and “executioner” in their statements following the verdict.
