The former headteacher of a French school recounted the harrowing events that led to the beheading of Samuel Paty, a popular teacher, by a Chechen refugee. The incident began with a 13-year-old student’s false claims about a class discussion on freedom of expression, which escalated when her father, accompanied by an activist, confronted the school. Despite efforts to clarify the situation, the pressure mounted, culminating in Paty’s murder outside the school in October 2020. Eight individuals are currently on trial, accused of complicity in this tragic event that has deepened societal divisions in France.