French court finds former soldier guilty of child’s murder

By NICOLAS VAUX-MONTAGNY
Associated Press

GRENOBLE, France (AP) — After three weeks of court testimony that has riveted France, a former soldier has been found guilty of killing an 8-year-old girl after luring her from a wedding celebration in a French Alpine town as guests partied into the night. Nordhal Lelandais on Friday was sentenced to life in prison with 22 years guaranteed behind bars. He was also found guilty of molesting two cousins, aged 4 and 6 before Maelys de Araujo’s death in August 2017. He had already been convicted in 2021 of killing a young soldier. Grenoble prosecutor Jacques Dallest had argued that Lelandais, a dog trainer, represents a “considerable social danger.”