But what is happening in Guadeloupe around the death of Cédric Cornet, mayor of the town of Gosier? The 43-year-old elected official was found dead at his home on March 21. A death considered suspicious by those close to him, despite the autopsy of the body which concluded that it was an accidental death.
A judicial investigation was opened in Pointe-à-Pitre, AFP learned this Friday from the public prosecutor’s office. “We contacted an investigating judge to open a judicial investigation for ‘research into the causes of death’”, declared Caroline Calbo, the public prosecutor. “That means that everything is open,” she clarified, indicating that this procedural framework would make it possible “to formulate requests if there are any and to sweep away the family’s doubts.” Toxicological and pathological expertise was requested. The prosecution remains awaiting the results.
A complaint filed for assassination
Indeed, despite the conclusions of the autopsy, which suggest an accidental death, the family of the father of a four-month-old baby does not believe this theory. On Tuesday, his relatives filed a complaint against X for murder.
Cédric Cornet, 43, has been mayor since 2020 of Gosier, the third most populous municipality in Guadeloupe. He had been included in the sex offender file since his conviction on appeal in 2019 to a two-year suspended prison sentence for sexual assault on a minor under 15 years old. He was also indicted in January 2023 for “embezzlement of public funds, favoritism, use of hidden work”.
A death attributed to “mechanical asphyxia”
The conclusions of the autopsy carried out the day after the discovery of the body of Cédric Cornet were made public on Wednesday by the Pointe-à-Pitre public prosecutor’s office in order to “avoid the propagation of fragmentary or inaccurate information or to put an end to a disturbing public order or when any other imperative of public interest justifies it.”
They mention a death attributed to “mechanical asphyxia due to obstruction of the upper airways by a large foreign food body”.
As for the succession of the elected official at the head of the town of Gosier, but also of the La Riviera du Levant Urban Community (CARL), his mandates have been filled. Since Tuesday, it is Liliane Montout who replaces him at the head of the town of Gosier following an extraordinary municipal council, which experienced some unrest including a projectile throw. Wednesday, the mayor of La Désirade, Loïc Tonton, was elected president of CARL.