A judge who investigated the death of Bénédicte Belair is set to appear before the Higher Judicial Council on 24 September to respond to allegations of misconduct. Sylvaine Grévin, Bénédicte’s sister and president of the National Federation of Victims of Feminicides (FNVF), has spent over a decade trying to uncover the truth behind her sister’s death in 2017. Grévin accuses the judge of failing to treat the victim’s family with the necessary sensitivity, including conducting a hearing that turned into an interrogation of a suspect and ordering the exhumation of Bénédicte’s body without informing the family. The exhumation took place in July 2020, and the family discovered the damage to the tomb when Bénédicte’s mother visited the grave. Grévin and her legal team argue that the judge’s silence was both intentional and deeply shocking. The judge could face disciplinary actions ranging from a formal reprimand to removal from office. Bénédicte’s death initially involved her partner, who called the gendarmerie in Pont-Sainte-Maxence (Oise) after finding her motionless in their home. The initial investigation concluded the death was accidental, possibly due to a fall while she was intoxicated. Grévin, however, believed the gendarmes should have looked into her partner, who had a prior conviction for domestic violence against her sister. She requested access to the case file and later filed a complaint to become a civil party in the case. Her efforts led to the investigation being reopened in January 2018, with the partner being charged with "voluntary homicide" and placed under the status of an assisted witness. The partner was also investigated for "voluntary violence" between 2015 and 2017. In 2021, the French state was condemned for serious negligence in the premature destruction of evidence that could have helped the investigation. Grévin also filed a complaint against the director of the initial investigation for "forgery of public or authentic documents by a public authority representative." The gendarme involved claimed to have contacted the victim’s doctor and a close friend, but Grévin disputes these claims, pointing to inconsistencies in the reports. The victim’s doctor stated he would have provided his medical records if contacted and noted that Bénédicte had spoken about domestic violence. The friend initially claimed to have limited contact with Bénédicte but later testified to regular communication and confidences about the violence she endured from her husband. Despite Grévin’s complaints, the prosecutor in Senlis requested that the forgery allegations be dropped, citing a lack of sufficient evidence against the investigation director or others. Grévin and her lawyers view this as yet another denial of justice and a sign of distrust toward civil parties. Grévin continues to advocate for victims of feminicides and highlights the additional trauma faced by those who file complaints or their families. She recently participates in trials related to feminicides to give voice to the victims and their loved ones, emphasizing the need for a more sensitive and thorough approach to such cases.