Rose Pizem's mother appeals life sentence

Marie-Charlotte Renault files petition with Supreme Court over 'disproportionate' punishment. Attorneys: It cannot be concluded Renault solicited to murdering her 4-year-old daughter

Aviad Glickman|Published: 09.01.11 , 15:36

Marie-Charlotte Renault, found guilty of solicitation to murder in the killing of her four-year-old daughter Rose Pizem in 2008, has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court against her life sentence on Thursday.

In the petition, Renault's attorneys claimed the punishment was disproportionate.

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It was claimed that the Petah Tikva District Court stated it was not proven whether she participated in the murder of Pizem and had therefore ruled to acquit her on grounds of benefit of the doubt and convict her for solicitation to murdering her daughter instead.

Marie-Charlotte Renault in court (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

In the appeal Renault negates the District Court's factual and legal rulings regarding her conviction.

Thursday was the last possible day to file an appeal in the case; however Renault's attorneys were unable to submit a detailed request and motioned for a continuance.

Renault's attorney claimed Thursday that the court overlooked evidence and opinions in the case from which "it cannot be concluded that Renault was a solicitor who wanted her daughter dead."

"The court ruled that Marie was a battered woman over the years and dependent on Ronny Ron. How could a woman like that solicit a violent, strong, manipulative and controlling man?" asked the attorney.

Chain of events

Four-year-old Rose went missing in May 2008, but her disappearance was not reported to authorities until August of that year.

The disappearance sparked a nationwide missing person's search: Massive police forces, the Police K-9 Unit and coast guard and hundreds of volunteers came together in one of the largest missions the county had ever known; but in September, after both Renault and Ron were interrogated several times, the police were able to piece together the location where the girl might be found.

Unfortunately, the information led to the banks of Tel Aviv's Ha'Yarkon River, where Rose's remains were found, stuffed into a suitcase.