Trial of Parents in 'A10 Unknown Child' Case Resumes After Medical Delay

The trial of Ahmed Touloub and Halima El Bakhti, the parents of the girl historically known as the 'unknown child of the A10,' faced further delays this week at the Blois Assize Court in France. The proceedings were interrupted after the mother, 72-year-old Halima El Bakhti, suffered a medical episode on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, during the presentation of graphic evidence regarding her daughter's death.

The court had been reviewing the autopsy findings of Inass Touloub, who was discovered dead in 1987 at the age of four, wrapped in a blue blanket along the A10 highway. Forensic pathologist Pauline Saint-Martin provided a detailed account of the child's injuries, which included multiple fractures, burns, and numerous bite marks. The presentation of these findings, accompanied by visual evidence of the child's body, caused significant distress in the courtroom and led to the mother being transported to a hospital for evaluation.

Following a night in the emergency room, the trial resumed briefly on Thursday morning. However, defense counsel Camille Radot requested a further delay, citing his client's exhaustion and her medical condition as a diabetic. While the court initially rejected requests for a new expert medical examination, emphasizing that an emergency physician had already cleared the defendant to attend, the proceedings were suspended again shortly thereafter to ensure the stability of the trial.

The case, which spans nearly four decades, centers on the death of Inass Touloub, whose identity remained a mystery until 2017. Investigators were able to identify the victim after a DNA match linked a man in a national database to the girl's remains. Subsequent inquiries revealed that the parents had failed to account for Inass in official documents, such as passports, while continuing to claim benefits for their other children.

Former lead investigator Benoît P. testified that the family had lived in a closed environment, with some siblings only learning of Inass's existence during the police investigation. Testimony indicated that the child had been subjected to severe abuse, with forensic experts concluding that her death was the result of repeated violence over an extended period. The parents, now in their seventies, face charges including torture and acts of barbarity that resulted in death without the intent to kill.

As the trial progresses, the court is expected to hear from dental experts regarding the bite marks found on the victim. Additionally, the testimony of the surviving siblings, who were children at the time of the incident, is scheduled to be heard behind closed doors to protect their privacy. The legal proceedings continue to examine how such a prolonged period of abuse could have occurred without intervention from social services or school authorities, a point of contention raised by the defense.

In a separate incident involving a mother and daughter, authorities in British Columbia, Canada, recently reported the deaths of Jennifer Balcarras and her 20-year-old daughter, Selah Reed. The two women were discovered following a suspected grizzly bear attack while hiking near Bella Coola. Conservation officers are currently conducting an investigation to locate the animals involved, noting that while such encounters are rare, they remain a significant risk in the region.