Paris Court Overturns 1997 Murder Conviction and Orders Retrial for Dany Leprince

The Paris court of revision for criminal convictions overturned Dany Leprince's 1997 conviction for a quadruple murder and ordered a retrial on July 2, 2026. Leprince, 69, was present at the courthouse and spoke after the ruling. Leprince thanked the court, his wife and his lawyers.

He said he wanted to remember his brother, sister-in-law and two nieces who were killed on September 4, 1994, in Sarthe in the Loire region. He also mentioned Solène, the sole survivor of the attack. "The fight goes on and I am determined not only for the retrial but also because the truth must come to light," Leprince said, according to Le Monde.

The court decision marks the 13th criminal retrial in France since 1945. Leprince's earlier request for a retrial was denied in 2011. Leprince had been sentenced to life in prison with 22 years without parole.

He was released after serving 18 years and is now presumed innocent. Le Monde reported that criminal retrials remain extremely rare in France.