Molsheim murder: defence in a complex criminal case involving international psychiatric issues

On 30 October 2026, the *Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace* published an article on the case of the death of Simona Boila, a Romanian cardiologist found dead at her home in Molsheim on 30 October 2025.

Mr THUAN DIT DIEUDONNE is acting as defence counsel for the main defendant in this particularly sensitive criminal case, which raises issues relating to criminal law, psychiatry and international judicial cooperation.

A particularly complex criminal case

According to press reports, the post-mortem examination concluded that the victim died as a result of several blows to the head and neck prior to the fire that subsequently destroyed the property.

The investigation led to the opening of a judicial inquiry into murder. The case has an international dimension, as the person under investigation was located and arrested in Romania before being extradited to France.

Major issues of criminal liability

Beyond the alleged offences, this case raises a fundamental question in contemporary criminal law: that of the mental state of the accused at the time of the offences.

In such cases, the defence is never limited to contesting the facts. It also involves an in-depth analysis:

  • psychiatric expert reports;
  • the defendant’s medical history;
  • the conditions under which the investigations were carried out;
  • the procedural safeguards provided by criminal procedure;
  • issues relating to extradition and international cooperation, where applicable.

Each case requires an individualised analysis to ensure that the courts have all the necessary information to assess both the facts and the personal circumstances of the accused.

Experience in criminal and international law

My practice regularly handles sensitive cases involving:

  • serious crimes and offences;
  • international extraditions;
  • European arrest warrants;
  • international mutual legal assistance in criminal matters;
  • psychiatric assessments;
  • litigation concerning fundamental rights.

Criminal defence is, above all, the defence of the rights of the accused, regardless of the seriousness of the charges brought against them or the public outcry surrounding the case.

Read the DNA article