Four members of his family have been arrested
Four members of the same family have been arrested following the beating to death of a nine-year-old boy at his home in the eastern French city of Mulhouse.
According to the BBC, police sources told local media that the boy had refused to do his homework at home and was hit with a broomstick.
The 9-year-old's older brother, his sister and his step-sister were all present at the time of the incident.
Although his mother was not present, police also arrested her, as she knew what had happened, sources said.
The death of the boy in the early hours of Sunday morning caused a wave of support for the child's parents by residents of the French city. However, the parents' initial descriptions of the incident and the subsequent autopsy prompted the police to continue the investigation. The forensic examination revealed bruises on the boy's body, mainly on his legs.
Although the boy suffered a heart attack, the doctors ruled that the cause of death was the blows he received. According to the police, the 9-year-old was hit with sharp objects.
The French media even report that the mother, although absent on a business trip, had encouraged the punishment of the child because he did not do his homework.
The four members of the family are being held and were expected to be taken to the prosecutor.
The main suspect is the boy's 19-year-old brother.
It is a tragic irony that the death of the little one came at a time when the French Parliament is considering passing a law against this type of domestic violence.