Jailed Dutch man dies awaiting trial for murdering 11-year-old neighbor in France
A 71-year-old Dutch man accused of killing his 11-year-old neighbor in Saint-Herbot, a small town in the Brittany region of France, died last week in a French hospital. Authorities confirmed his death on Wednesday.
The man, identified as Dirk R., had been awaiting trial on charges of murder and attempted murder after he allegedly fired a rifle into his neighbors' garden during a dispute on June 10, 2023. The shooting killed 11-year-old Solaine Thornton and severely injured her parents, Adrian and Rachel Thornton. Solaine’s 8-year-old sister, Celeste, escaped unharmed but was left in shock.
Dirk R. was being held in a detention facility in Brest but was transferred to a hospital due to a terminal illness. He died there last Friday. French authorities have not disclosed the cause of death. With his death, the legal proceedings against him have been closed.
His wife, a Belgian called Marlene van H., in her 70s, remains under judicial supervision and is expected to face trial. While Dirk R. faced charges of murder and attempted murder, the woman was charged with failing to assist persons in danger. Authorities alleged that she tried to hide the rifle used in the attack.
According to authorities, the shooting that led to Solaine's death stemmed from a long-standing dispute between Dirk R. and the Thornton family, who had lived in the village for five years. Witnesses and local officials reported that tensions escalated over issues including property boundaries, tree cutting, and noise complaints.
On the evening of the shooting, the Thornton family was in their garden. The children were playing on a swing while their parents barbecued nearby. At approximately 10 p.m., Dirk R. fired multiple shots through a hedge separating the properties.
Solaine died at the scene, while Adrian Thornton, 50, suffered critical injuries to his head. Rachel Thornton sustained minor injuries. Celeste fled to a neighboring property, crying, “My sister is dead!” according to witnesses.
After the attack, Dirk R. and Marlene van H. reportedly barricaded themselves inside their home. Police arrested the couple shortly afterward.
At the time of the shooting, Dirk R. and his wife were allegedly under the influence of alcohol and cannabis, prosecutors said.
Dirk R. and Marlene van H. had lived in Saint-Herbot for three years. Residents described them as distant and referred to Dirk R. as “the Belgian” due to his Antwerp origins.
French prosecutor Camille Miansoni described the incident as the culmination of years of frustration between the neighbors. The conflict reportedly began over the Thorntons’ purchase of a plot of land adjoining Dirk R.’s property, where they planned to cut down trees. “The noise of children playing and the use of a chainsaw during landscaping activities were among the disturbances cited by Dirk R.,” Miansoni said.
Saint-Herbot Mayor Marguerite Bleuzen said tensions in the small community had been evident. “The Dutch couple seemed to live a reclusive life,” she told French media, adding that the Thorntons were well-liked in the village.
