French singer wanted to 'fake suicide' to scare girlfriend: prosecutors

French singer Kendji Girac, who was seriously injured by a gunshot this week, wanted to "fake" his suicide to scare his partner, who was threatening to leave him, prosecutors said Thursday.

The 27-year-old former winner of France's version of The Voice was found wounded after police were called to a traveller camp in Biscarrosse on France's southwestern coast.

Girac told first responders he had accidentally shot himself while tinkering with a Colt 45 automatic pistol he had bought at a junk shop, a source has said.

On Thursday, regional prosecutor Olivier Janson said, citing the singer, that he wanted to "fake" his suicide to scare his girlfriend, who was threatening to leave him.

"He was very frightened when he heard her talking about leaving, he panicked and wanted to scare her," Janson said.

"In a way, he simulated suicide", he told a press conference.

"He said he took responsibility for what he did while regretting it very much," said the prosecutor.

"Barring any new elements" a homicide probe will be dropped, Janson said, adding that Girac would need "several months" to recover.

They had ruled out anyone else being involved, the prosecutor said.

An accident involving that type of handgun was also dismissed. "A shot cannot go off on its own," said the prosecutor.

Tests showed heavy levels of alcohol in the singer's blood as well as cocaine following a night of partying.

Girac's "emerging addiction to alcohol" was a source of tension between him and his girlfriend, Janson said.

The singer "had already said in the past that he was going to shoot himself or cut his throat during arguments", the prosecutor said, citing Girac's partner.

Girac is the stage name of Kendji Maille. His hits include "Color Gitano" and "Andalouse" (Andalucia) referencing his Catalan Roma heritage.

© 2024 AFP