French court sentences homeless man to 30 years for 2022 Mulhouse retirement home murder

Verdict in Colmar assize court

On Wednesday, 30 September 2026, the Haut-Rhin Assize Court in Colmar sentenced 39-year-old Amin Mohamed Issam to 30 years of criminal imprisonment for robbery with violence resulting in death. The court followed the exact sentencing recommendation of Advocate General Alexia Marquis, who told the court that the 2022 murder was motivated purely by theft. Issam, a homeless Algerian national, had stood trial in Colmar since Monday, 28 September 2026, for the killing of 70-year-old Chantal Kempf. Two other homeless Algerian men appeared alongside Issam on charges of receiving stolen goods, with both receiving six-month firm prison terms.

In her closing statement to the assize court, Marquis addressed the commercial motive behind the fatal attack.

The victim was nothing more than an obstacle between him and the items he coveted.

The 2022 Mulhouse attack

The murder occurred in June 2022 at a retirement residence for the elderly located in Mulhouse. On 6 June 2022, staff found the body of 70-year-old Chantal Kempf in the bathroom of her private room. An examination revealed that she had suffered at least a dozen knife wounds during the attack. On the evening prior to the discovery, another resident at the facility had pushed away the homeless intruder as he attempted to force his way into her room. A third resident believed she heard Kempf crying out for help on that same evening, but she did not raise the alarm with staff.

Police detained Issam and the two other homeless men on the afternoon of 6 June 2022, hours after the body was found. Investigators recovered Kempf's identity card and bank cards directly from Issam during the arrest.

Criminal history and international aliases

At the time of the Mulhouse killing, Issam was subject to an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF). European police records indicated that he used several aliases while living across Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. In Spain, judicial authorities had previously convicted Issam of rape. In France, authorities had also accused him of committing similar violent acts against a female university student in Dijon in 2013.

Trial testimony and forensic evidence

During the three days of hearings in Colmar, Issam struggled to make himself understood because of throat cancer. Despite forensic teams finding his DNA on several items inside Kempf's room, he maintained his innocence throughout the trial. In his testimony, Issam attempted to shift criminal responsibility onto his two co-defendants. A psychological expert witness testified regarding Issam's mental state, describing him as devoid of empathy and indifferent to both others and himself. The assize court rejected his claims, delivering the 30-year sentence on Wednesday afternoon.