Nicolas Zepeda, a Chilean national, is currently on trial in Lyon for the third time for the murder of his Japanese ex-girlfriend, which occurred in 2016 in Besançon. Throughout the proceedings, Zepeda has consistently denied the charges against him, despite the presence of evidence that suggests premeditation. The family of the victim has been left without hope of recovering her body and continues to demand justice in a case that has attracted significant public and media attention.

During previous trials, Zepeda was previously sentenced to 28 years in prison on two separate occasions, in 2022 and again in 2023, but these verdicts were ultimately overturned by the Court of Cassation in 2025 due to a procedural error. His defense attorney, Sylvain Cormier, has stated that Zepeda will continue to assert his innocence as the trial proceeds in the Rhône Cour d’assises. The trial raises important questions about the legal system's handling of cases where the body of the victim is not recovered, as well as the implications for the judicial process when convictions are overturned.

The case is emblematic of the challenges faced by the families of victims in similar situations, who often struggle with unresolved grief while seeking closure and accountability. Zepeda's continued detention since his extradition from Chile in 2020 also highlights the complexities involved in international legal proceedings, particularly when foreign nationals are involved.