Hamida Djandoubi

Hamida Djandoubi, born on 22 September 1949 in Tunisia, moved to Marseille, France, in 1968 and worked in a grocery store before becoming a landscaper. In 1971, he lost two-thirds of his right leg in a workplace accident involving a tractor.

In 1973, Djandoubi was accused by Élisabeth Bousquet, whom he had met while recovering from surgery, of attempting to force her into prostitution. After his release from custody later that year, he allegedly forced two other young girls into prostitution.

On 3 July 1974, Djandoubi kidnapped and tortured Bousquet at his home before strangling her near Marseille. Her body was found four days later. In August 1974, he kidnapped another girl who escaped and reported him to the police.

Djandoubi was tried in Aix-en-Provence on charges of torture-murder, rape, and premeditated violence. He argued his violent behavior stemmed from his leg amputation six years earlier. On 25 February 1977, he was sentenced to death by guillotine.

His execution was carried out at Baumettes Prison in Marseille on 10 September 1977 at 4:40 a.m., making him the last person executed in France and the last legally sanctioned beheading in the Western world. His case marked the final use of the guillotine in France before capital punishment was abolished in October 1981.

Marcel Chevalier, France's chief executioner at the time, performed Djandoubi's execution.