French singer Kendji Girac, who was seriously injured by a gunshot this week, wanted to “fake” his suicide to scare his partner who was threatening to leave him, prosecutors said on Thursday.
The 27-year-old former winner of France’s version of The Voice was found wounded after police were called to a traveler camp in Biscarrosse on France’s southwestern coast.
Girac told first responders he had accidentally shot himself while tinkering with a Colt .45 automatic pistol he had bought at a junk shop, a source said.
Photo: AFP
On Thursday, regional prosecutor Olivier Janson said, citing the singer, that he wanted to “fake” his suicide to scare his girlfriend, who was threatening to leave him.
“He was very frightened when he heard her talking about leaving, he panicked and wanted to scare her,” Janson said.
“In a way, he simulated suicide,” he told a news conference.
“He said he took responsibility for what he did while regretting it very much,” the prosecutor said.
“Barring any new elements” a homicide probe would be dropped, Janson said, adding that Girac would need “several months” to recover.
They had ruled out anyone else being involved, the prosecutor said.
An accident involving that type of handgun was also dismissed. “A shot cannot go off on its own,” the prosecutor said.
Tests showed heavy levels of alcohol in the singer’s blood as well as cocaine following a night of partying.
Girac’s “emerging addiction to alcohol” was a source of tension between him and his girlfriend, Janson said.
The singer “had already said in the past that he was going to shoot himself or cut his throat during arguments,” the prosecutor said, citing Girac’s partner.
Girac is the stage name of Kendji Maille. His hits include Color Gitano and Andalouse (Andalusian girl) referencing his Catalan-Roman heritage.
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