French Mother Sentenced to Life for Starving Daughter to Death

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A French woman, Sandrine Pissarra, has been sentenced to life in prison for the torture and starvation of her daughter, Amandine, who died in 2020 at the age of 13. The court in Montpellier found Pissarra, 54, guilty of inflicting severe abuse on her daughter over several years, contributing to her death from a heart attack attributed to malnutrition and neglect.

The mother received the maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with a minimum of 20 years before she can apply for parole. Her former partner, Jean-Michel Cros, was also sentenced to 20 years for his role in depriving Amandine of care, with no possibility of parole. Prosecutors described Pissarra as a "domestic tyrant" and outlined the severe physical and emotional abuse Amandine suffered, including being locked in a storage room for weeks, being deprived of food, and facing physical violence.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that at the time of her death, Amandine weighed only 28 kilograms and exhibited signs of extreme neglect, including severe weight loss and dental issues. Pissarra had claimed her daughter suffered from eating disorders, a statement that lacked corroboration from professionals.

The case has drawn attention to the broader issues of child welfare and domestic abuse, with legal representatives arguing about shared responsibility among adults who interacted with Amandine during her life.

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