Amandine weighed only 62 pounds at the time of her death in August 2020.
Warning: This article discusses child abuse, which some readers may find deeply upsetting.
A French court has sentenced a 54-year-old woman to life in prison after finding her guilty of torturing her teenage daughter to death in a case that shocked the nation.
Sandrine Pissarra, the mother, will serve a minimum of 20 years behind bars before becoming eligible for parole.
Her 13-year-old daughter, Amandine, tragically passed away in August 2020 due to prolonged abuse and neglect.
Prosecutors revealed that Amandine had endured years of relentless abuse, including being punched, kicked, having her hair pulled, and even being attacked with a broom. These horrific acts were inflicted upon her from an early age.
Over time, she lost several teeth and was subjected to more torment, such as having chunks of her hair ripped out. She was locked away in a windowless storage room for weeks at a time, where she was monitored by cameras and denied access to proper meals.
When she died, Amandine, who was five feet and one inch tall, weighed a mere 62 pounds—an appallingly low weight for her height and age.
A medical examination revealed that she had suffered severe muscle loss, extreme malnutrition, and septicemia, a life-threatening blood infection caused by bacteria or toxins. These findings highlighted the immense physical toll she had endured.
Sandrine Pissarra was sentenced by judges and a jury in France
Getty Stock Photo
After Amandine’s death in the small village of Montblanc, Pissarra was taken into custody and questioned by authorities. Initially, she claimed her daughter had been battling eating disorders.
On the day of Amandine’s death, Pissarra alleged that her daughter had consumed a piece of sugar, some fruit puree, and a high-protein drink before suddenly vomiting and ceasing to breathe.
However, further investigation revealed a much darker reality. The magistrate overseeing the case stated there was ‘no doubt’ that Amandine had been subjected to violent abuse by her mother, who had eight children from three different relationships.
A psychiatric evaluation of Pissarra, cited in court, revealed that the mother’s actions stemmed from her desire to transfer her hatred of Amandine’s father onto her child. The disturbing assessment shed light on the motivation behind the prolonged abuse.
As reported by Metro, Pissarra admitted during the trial that she had mistreated her daughter because ‘she looked like her father.’
After her arrest in May 2021, Pissarra faced trial in front of a jury consisting of three professional judges and six members of the public. The panel ultimately agreed to impose a life sentence, the maximum penalty for her crime.
Amandine had suffered years of abuse, the court heard
BFM TV
Pissarra’s former partner, Jean-Michel Cros, was also sentenced to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors described him as a ‘collaborator’ who contributed to Amandine’s death by depriving her of essential care.
During the trial, Pissarra’s lawyers argued that other adults in Amandine’s life bore a shared responsibility for her well-being. They appealed for a more ‘reasonable and fair’ sentence for their client, though this argument did not sway the court’s decision.
In her final statement, Pissarra addressed the court with the following words: “I want to apologize to my children, that’s all.”
If you or someone you know has been impacted by issues related to child abuse, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline is available to provide confidential support.
You can reach them 24/7 at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). Calls are accepted from across the United States, Canada, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.