Christophe Champenois 'killed son by shutting him in a washing machine'

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Christophe Champenois, 37, allegedly killed son Bastien, 3, in 2011
He put Bastien in a washing machine for 'misbehaving at school'
His ex-wife, Bastien's mother, is accused of complicity in murder

By Sara Malm and Tim Finan For Mailonline

Published: 10:24 EST, 8 September 2015 | Updated: 12:56 EST, 8 September 2015

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A father allegedly killed his three-year-old son by putting him in a washing machine and turning it on, a French court heard today.

Christophe Champenois, 37, allegedly sought to punish his son Bastien for 'behaving badly at school', prosecutors say.

Bastien's mother Charlotte Cotte, 29, is charged with collusion and appeared alongside Champenois at the Assize Court in Melun, in a Paris' suburb on Tuesday.

Alleged killer: Christophe Champenois, 37, centre, is accused of murdering his son Bastien, three, by putting him in a washing machine as punishment for 'being naughty at school'

During the first day of his murder trial, Champenois claimed he had no memory of the events on November 25, 2011, when Bastien died.

It was Champenois himself who called emergency services in the town of Germigny-l'Eveque, east of Paris, saying he had a 'small problem' as his son had fallen down the stairs.

He added that he had given him a bath to refresh him and that the toddler must have drowned because he had water coming out of his nostrils.

However the victim's older sister, then five, told the doctor: 'Daddy put Bastien in the washing machine because he was naughty at school.'

Tragedy: Bastien, three, died in November 2011

She maintained this version throughout the investigation, and Cotte has previously said she saw Champenois put Bastien in the washing machine and turn it on.

Cotte told investigators she was doing a puzzle with her daughter and Champenois was surfing on the internet while their son screamed inside the tumbling machine.

She said that when her ex-husband removed Bastien from the washing machine and noticed he was no longer breathing he said: 'At least he won't bother us anymore.'

However, in an interview with Le Parisien published Tuesday, Cotte said she had tried to save her son and that Champenois had pushed her away from the washing machine.

A neighbour who came to the apartment to help described Bastien as 'frozen, completely naked. He was all white, limp, practically like a toy.'

Cotte was initially charged with failing to prevent a crime, but this was changed to 'aiding and abetting murder and violence.'

She again denied any complicity in the crime in court on Tuesday.

Her lawyer Gerard Zbili described her as a 'broken woman who lost the child that she loved' but who was unable to protect him out of fear of her husband.

Zbili added that Cotte had been regularly beaten by Champenois and claimed she had never taken part in punishments inflicted on Bastien.

Charlene Cotte, the mother of Bastien who is accused of complicity in his murder, arrives at the Assize Court in Melun, in a Paris' suburb on Tuesday

Cotte has claimed that she was regularly beaten by her ex and that although she was present and witnessed Bastien being stuffed in the wahing mashine, she had never taken part in punishments inflicted on him

Several child protection agencies are appearing in a civil suit in the case, which has revealed a deeply troubled family known to social services.

It has emerged that Bastien was not wanted by his father, who dealt out harsh punishments for his increasingly agitated behaviour at home and at school, such as locking him in a cupboard.

The failure of social workers will also be examined in the trial, as three reports of a 'child in danger' and nine of 'worrying information' had been filed before the murder.

The family had been in the care of social workers for four years prior to the alleged murder, the court heard.

'This is not an isolated act... it is not a fit of rage or madness, it is the final act of violence against a child who was always mistreated,' said Isabelle Steyer, lawyer for a child protection group, who said Bastien has 'fallen through all the cracks.'

A verdict is expected on Friday.