Teenager, 19, kills 'paedophile priest who abused him' by ramming a crucifix down his throat and suffocating him in France

A 19-year-old man has been arrested for killing a suspected paedophile priest by ramming a crucifix down his throat and suffocating him.

Alexandre V., who is alleged to have been abused by the priest, attacked the 91-year-old Catholic Roger Matassoli at the holy figure's home in Agnetz, Oise, northern France.

Matassoli had been accused of sexually abusing at least four boys, including Alexandre and Alexandre's father, between 1960 and 2000.

The priest had to be shifted from the diocese of Clermont in 1967 to the diocese of Saint-Andre-Farivillers, and was then moved to Agnetz, following allegations of paedophilia, reports Franceinfo. And yet he remained on the church's payroll until 2018.

The attacker, whose full name has not been published, was arrested and charged with torture, murder and resisting arrest.

Father Roger Matassoli, pictured left in 1980, was found dead in his home in Agnetz, Oise, northern France, with a crucifix shoved down his throat. The priest had faced accusations that he abused at least four children.

The priest's body was found in his home with signs of torture on November 4.

Alexandre, who worked as a housekeeper in Matassoli's home, was caught by authorities attempting to escape in the holy man's car and arrested on the same day.

However, he was transferred to hospital due to alleged psychiatric problems and was not formally charged until December 26.

The suspect had tried to kill himself after being abused by the priest, according to the suspect's father Stephane, who has also claimed that his father killed himself when he learnt how his son had been abused by the priest.

Speaking about the priest's impact on his family to French media, Stephane said the priest had 'shattered a whole family'.