Tragedy Strikes on International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women
A 49-year-old woman was stabbed to death by her former partner in Saint-Colomban, near Nantes, on Tuesday evening, in a brutal attack that occurred on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The suspect, who had previously been convicted of threatening the victim, was found hanged two days later.
Brutal Attack During Family Celebration
According to the Nantes public prosecutor’s office, the victim, Nathalie G., was celebrating a family member’s birthday at her daughter’s home when her ex-partner, Pascal G., “suddenly appeared uninvited” around 8:15 PM. As the victim was leaving the house with her daughter, the assailant emerged from a wooded path near the garage and launched a violent knife attack.
The prosecutor described a horrifying scene: the victim suffered approximately twenty stab wounds of varying sizes and depths to her abdomen, upper left chest, back, left knee, and both hands. Despite emergency medical intervention, she went into cardiac arrest and died at approximately 9:00 PM.
Suspect Had History of Threats Against Victim
The 57-year-old suspect had a documented history of violence toward the victim. In May 2023, he was convicted by the Nantes Criminal Court for death threats made against Nathalie G. and their son on December 31, 2022. His sentence included:
- One-year suspended prison sentence with two years probation
- Prohibition from contacting the victims or appearing at their residence
Following this conviction, the victim had been provided with a “telephone grave danger” (high-risk phone) in June 2023, but the device was removed in September 2024 as she no longer considered it necessary. The protection order had legally expired on May 9, 2025.
Nationwide Context of Femicide
The tragedy occurred against a backdrop of increasing domestic violence in France. According to Interior Ministry statistics, conjugal femicides increased by 11% between 2023 and 2024, with 107 women killed by their current or former partners—equivalent to one death every three days.
Nantes Prosecutor Antoine Leroy emphasized the broader implications of the case, stating, “These events remind us all of the great vigilance that must be maintained in this regard, even when all available legal protective measures for the victim have been utilized, as was the case here. The fight against violence against women is permanent and must continue to mobilize everyone and all institutions.”
An investigation into the murder has been opened by the Nantes public prosecutor’s office, and an autopsy has been scheduled to determine the exact circumstances of the victim’s death.
