Boy, 10, Charged with Attempted Murder and Rape of Jogger in France

​SAINT-BRIEUC, France — A 10-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder and rape following a brutal ambush on a woman who was jogging through a park in Brittany, French authorities confirmed.

​The victim, a 22-year-old woman, was running through the Gouëdic Valley park in Saint-Brieuc when she was allegedly cornered by the young suspect. According to local reports, the boy ordered the woman to strip. When she refused, the assailant reportedly stabbed her in the arm and abdomen before fleeing the scene.

​The breakthrough in the case came nearly a week later when alert police officers spotted a youngster matching the suspect’s description. Following his arrest, investigators recovered a knife believed to have been used in the assault, alongside clothing from his residence that matched the details provided by the victim.

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​During police interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to the violent assault. Local prosecutors noted that the boy had arrived in France from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, roughly a year ago to live with his father.

​While official identity documents register the suspect’s age as 10, forensic medical examinations ordered by the police suggest his physiological age could be at least 14. Saint-Brieuc Prosecutor Julien Wattebled declined to speculate on the discrepancy, stating that the investigation is currently proceeding based on the legal documentation provided, which lists him as a child.

​Under French law, the suspect’s true age will heavily dictate the legal framework of the proceedings, as children under 13 face vastly different criminal liabilities than older teenagers. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to verify the suspect’s background and legal status.