The Corrèze Assize Court sentenced Lucas Larivée to 30 years in prison, with a 20-year safety period, for the rape and murder of Justine Vayrac, which occurred in October 2022 after a night out at a nightclub in Brive-la-Gaillarde.
Lucas Larivée, 24, was sentenced on Saturday, March 21, 2026, by the Corrèze Assize Court to 30 years in criminal imprisonment, with a 20-year safety period, for raping and murdering Justine Vayrac, 20, in the night of October 22 to 23, 2022. The incident followed a night out at the La Charette nightclub in Brive-la-Gaillarde. The victim's body was found buried in Beynat. After six hours of deliberation, the jurors issued the verdict, lighter than the life imprisonment with 22 years' safety period sought by prosecutor Émilie Abrantes, who described the accused as a dangerous «psychopathe» and «prisonnier de (ses) mensonges» during the trial. In tears, Justine Vayrac's mother embraced the accused's mother after the announcement. The victim's stepfather stated: «Depuis le début, nous avons fait le choix de faire confiance en la justice de notre pays et cette confiance est intacte». Defense lawyer Me Michel Labrousse declined to comment, noting a possible appeal would not be decided hastily. Previously convicted for arson, Larivée initially blamed a fictional third party before admitting the acts in custody. The defense argued an accident during a consensual sexual game gone wrong, but expertise showed blood projections, blows inflicted, and testimony from another woman strangled shortly after. Vincent Vayrac, Justine's 44-year-old father and assistant management controller, testified to his grief: «Je suis là en tant que papa de Justine, très malheureux et aussi très en colère. Je suis un papa qui aimait profondément sa fille, Justine était ma seule fille».