French Court Sentences Man to 28 Years for Murdering Beninese Woman

A French court has delivered a 28-year prison sentence to Yacine A., the former companion of Armale Deodade Aïvohozin, a Beninese woman found dead in a freezer in Grigny, France. The verdict came after a four-day trial, during which Yacine A. maintained that the killing was accidental. The court found him guilty of murdering the 44-year-old woman, who was discovered wrapped in trash bags and placed in a large freezer in Yacine A.'s apartment.

The case dates back to July 2023, when Armale Deodade Aïvohozin, a 44-year-old Beninese woman, was reported missing. Her body was discovered on July 22, 2023, in Yacine A.'s apartment, above a butcher shop where he worked. The autopsy revealed that she had suffered two gunshot wounds to the chest and head. Yacine A. claimed that the shooting occurred during a struggle, but ballistic experts found that the two projectiles came from similar close-range shots.

Throughout the trial, Yacine A. continued to assert that the killing was not intentional. He claimed that Armale Deodade Aïvohozin had announced her intention to end their relationship, leading him to threaten suicide with a pistol. According to his account, a struggle ensued, resulting in the first shot that hit her in the chest. However, he attributed the second shot, which hit her in the head, to Rachid A., who was accused of helping to conceal the body.

The prosecution argued that the murder was motivated by jealousy and possessiveness. Several witnesses testified that Armale Deodade Aïvohozin was planning to leave Yacine A. and that her best friend had planned to exchange information with her just before the murder. The court also heard that Yacine A. had kept the relationship a secret from Armale Deodade Aïvohozin's three sons, who had dropped her off at Grigny the day before her disappearance, unaware of her relationship with Yacine A.

Rachid A., who was charged with helping to conceal the body, received a three-year prison sentence but will not serve time. Yacine A.'s sentence includes a two-thirds safety period and a ban on French territory upon his release. The prosecution had sought a 30-year sentence. Before the jury retired to deliberate, Yacine A. once again apologized to the victim's family.

Armale Deodade Aïvohozin was described by those close to her as a joyful, sociable person devoted to her family. She worked in education and had a close relationship with her three sons, who were left traumatized by her death. The case has had a profound impact on those who knew her.

The verdict was delivered on November 5, 2026, three years after the discovery of Armale Deodade Aïvohozin's body. Yacine A. was found guilty of murder, and his sentence reflects the severity of the crime.

Key points

• Yacine A. was sentenced to 28 years in prison for the murder of Armale Deodade Aïvohozin.
• The prosecution argued that the murder was motivated by jealousy and possessiveness.
• Rachid A. received a three-year prison sentence for his role in concealing the body.