The defense of François Perez, a former military accused of the disappearance and murder of Fadila Bouafia in Ariège in November 2024, has requested the cancellation of a personality inquiry deemed “off-topic”. This rare request does not challenge the substance of the case, but raises questions about the methods used by social and judicial interveners.
It is a document of around fifty pages that could have gone unnoticed. An expert judicial evaluation like the dozens that exist in complex criminal cases. However, this one is causing some trouble for the Toulouse justice system. The defense of François Perez – a 48-year-old former soldier accused of the disappearance of a 53-year-old mother, Fadila Bouafia, nicknamed “Fafa”, on November 4, 2024, in Biert, Ariège – has just requested the annulment of the personality inquiry conducted with this man, who has been in pre-trial detention for a year and a half.
This rare and singular procedure targets the two authors of this inquiry, appointed by the investigating judge, and its content is deemed “off-topic”.
On Thursday, March 19, the chamber of the Toulouse court of appeal examined, behind closed doors, the nullity request raised by Mr. Guy Dedieu and Pierre Dunac, representing François Perez’s interests. According to the defense, the two psychologists who conducted this inquiry in 2025 went beyond their role by describing “attitudes”, “behaviors” of the accused during their various interviews. The content leans more towards morphopsychology rather than objective information tracing the detainee’s life trajectory. The document mentions inappropriate assessments by the accused’s defenders. Like this statement describing François Perez’s behavior: “Certain themes may have generated a form of tension in him that he expresses through exacerbated breathing and physical agitation (stiffening of the arms and fists, restlessness of the lower limbs)”.
Context: François Perez, a former military, is accused of being involved in the disappearance and murder of Fadila Bouafia, and his defense has questioned the validity of a personality inquiry conducted as part of the case.
Fact Check: The defense claims that the personality inquiry conducted with François Perez included descriptions of his behavior and attitudes that were deemed unrelated to the case, raising concerns about the methods used by those involved.
Life trajectory
In criminal proceedings, personality inquiries involve in-depth investigations concerning a victim or a suspect related to their family, social, or professional situation. The investigators appointed by the examining magistrates are tasked with collecting testimonies to trace the life trajectory and background of the suspect or victim. This work is then presented to an assize court for consideration.
The chamber of the court of appeal has deferred its judgment. The ruling is expected in the coming weeks. If the nullity request is accepted, the personality inquiry will need to be redone. This process does not affect the progress of the criminal investigations.
A murder without a body or confession
Despite the charges against François Perez, he continues to deny any involvement in the disappearance and murder of his friend, “Fafa”. His voice is heard on voicemail messages discussing death threats. A hatchet found in January 2025, not far from his cabin in Biert, contains DNA traces of the victim and hairs that experts say could belong to Fadila Bouafia.
Finally, bone fragments were found in a domestic incinerator used by Perez in the mountains. Despite detailed analyses, it is impossible to confirm that they belong to the missing woman. According to forensic anthropologists, these bones are from a “human subject over 30 years old”. Despite the lack of formal identification, one of the civil parties, Mr. Raynaud de Lage, believes there is “sufficiently incriminating evidence” against François Perez.
