Parents, grandmother held after boy tortured to death

THE parents, grandmother and uncle of a nine-year-old French boy were placed in detention yesterday after allegedly torturing the child to death over a period of several days, police said.

The child, whom authorities identified as Nicolas H, was discovered at home on Saturday in cardiac arrest, with bruises covering his body and face, police said.

Paramedics revived the boy, and he was brought to the city's Hautepierre hospital. He died of brain haemorrhaging on arrival, police said.