‘First ever’ criminal investigation in France into wine grower’s death from pesticide use

A French criminal court has launched an unprecedented inquiry into the “involuntary homicide” of a Bordeaux wine grower who died of lung cancer after using a toxic pesticide on his grapes for 40 years. James-Bernard Murat, died in 2012 after spraying his vineyards in southwestern France with three pesticides containing sodium arsenite, which is now banned as a carcinogenic poison. His cancer was officially confirmed to be “linked to his profession” in 2011.