Katy Spicher Sues French State for Denial of Justice Over Unsolved 1983 Murder of Her Mother

Katy Spicher has taken legal action against the French state, accusing it of denial of justice in the unresolved murder case of her mother, Marylise Spicher, who was stabbed to death in Amiens in 1983. At just six years old when her mother was killed, Katy has endured deep psychological suffering and feelings of institutional abandonment due to judicial failings. The lawsuit, filed on February 18, 2026, claims significant dysfunctions in the investigation, including the case's premature dismissal in 1988 despite a relative’s confession.

Katy's legal team contends that key investigative steps were neglected and that she was never given the chance to assert her rights as a minor. She is seeking €375,000 in damages to cover moral suffering, procedural losses, and patrimonial harm. In 2025, new testimonies relevant to the case surfaced; however, the Amiens prosecutor formally refused a request to reopen the investigation. This decision has further highlighted systemic issues within the French judicial system regarding cold cases and justice for victims' families, particularly as discussions continue around statutes of limitations for violent crimes in France.

This lawsuit brings attention to longstanding procedural failures and the emotional toll judicial inertia can impose on victims' relatives, emphasizing the challenges faced in resolving decades-old violent crimes.