Teenager, 19, kills 'paedophile priest who abused him' by ramming a crucifix down his throat

A 19-year-old man has been arrested for killing a suspected paedophile priest by ramming a crucifix down his throat and suffocating him.

Alexandre V., who is alleged to have been abused by the priest, attacked the 91-year-old Catholic Roger Matassoli while working at the holy figure's home in Agnetz, Oise, northern France.

Alexandre, whose full name has not been published, was arrested while he tried to escape in the father's car and charged with torture, murder and resisting arrest.

Matassoli had been accused of sexually abusing at least four boys, including Alexandre and Alexandre's father, between 1960 and 2000.

The priest had to be shifted from the diocese of Clermont in 1967, and the diocese of Saint-Andre-Farivillers by 1984 before being sent to live in Agnetz due to allegations of paedophilia, Franceinfo reports.

And yet he remained on the church's payroll until 2018.

Father Roger Matassoli, pictured left in 1980, was found dead in his home in Agnetz, Oise, northern France, with a crucifix shoved down his throat. The priest had faced accusations that he abused at least four children

The church in Agnetz town, Oise, in the town where Matassoli was moved to following allegations of abuse in the diocese of Saint-Andre-Farivillers

The priest was found dead by officers with signs of torture on his body and appearing to have suffered asphyxiation at his home on November 4.

However, the attacker wasn't formally charged until December 26 as he was transferred to hospital due to psychiatric problems.

The suspect's father Stephane's killed himself when he learnt about the abuse, and Alexandre also tried to kill himself following the abuse, French reports have claimed.

Stephane also said that the priest had 'shattered a whole family'.

Police are pursuing their investigation based on the hypothesis that this was an act of revenge, according to local media. Alexandre has told investigators he has no recollection of the events.

The priest's attacker was charged with murder, torture and resisting arrest (stock image)

The sister of a man who was abused by the priest in Saint-Andre-Farivillers said he was targeted between the ages of six and 15, Franceinfo reports.

Colette claimed everyone in the village knew the rumours, but no one took action.

A picture of Matassoli stripped naked was found in a landfill by the community in 1984, but again no action was taken. The priest claimed at the time that it was a souvenir from the army when he was 18 years old.

After the priest's murder, Beauvais bishop Jacques Benoit-Gonnin said Roger Matassoli had been removed from his duties in 2009 after abuse allegations emerged.

However, conflicting local media reports also state that 2009 was the year that the priest retired due to old age.

It also later emerged that bishop Jacques Benoit-Gonnin allegedly kept Matassoli on the payroll until 2018, when he took Alexandre and Stephane's testimony into consideration, as well as the testimony of at least two other alleged victims, still according to local media.

Reports allege that the priest had been allowed to carry on working due to 'ecclesiastical errors' and due to a succession of bishops putting off dealing with the issue.