In the night of 26 July a noisy dispute broke out in the Vilnius hotel room shared by French actress Marie Trintignant and her boyfriend Bertrand Cantat. Fuelled by a lethal cocktail of passion, jealousy and allegedly dangerous amounts of drugs and alcohol, the lovers’ quarrel was to end in tragedy with Trintignant plunged into a fatal coma. While the exact chain of events leading to the actress's death remains unclear, it is has been established that Cantat hit Trintignant then left her lying unconscious for several hours before seeking medical help.

Trintignant was taken to a hospital in the Lithuanian capital in the early hours of the morning in a deep coma. She was eventually flown back to Paris at her parents’ request, but died there the following day (1 August) as a result of a brain oedema.

After Trintignant was admitted to hospital Cantat was placed under arrest in Vilnius. He made a court appearance in the Baltic state capital on 31 July where he denied murder, saying the death was a "tragic accident, not a crime." Pathologists who carried out the autopsy on Trintignant’s body announced that "the victim had suffered blows to several regions on the face. Her coma and subsequent death were caused by cranial traumatism resulting from the blows.”

Cantat was originally charged with "grave bodily harm.” However, the Vilnius district prosecutor’s office later changed that charge to murder following a complaint filed by Trintignant’s family, who are currently campaigning for the singer’s trial to be held in France. Cantat, who was moved from prison to a secure hospital ward because of fears for his mental health, has also stated his desire to be extradited to France. But Lithuanian authorities have refused as the two states do not have an extradition agreement. With Paris denying any talk of tension with Vilnius, each day brings its fresh share of legal and diplomatic complications. Unless the Vilnius prosecutor’s office changes its position, Cantat will be held in custody in Vilnius until 15 October, then stand trial in the Baltic state’s capital.

Shockwaves have travelled far beyond Vilnius since the tragedy and the French public have been stunned by news of Trintignant’s death and Cantat’s arrest. For this was no ordinary couple. Marie, daughter of director Nadine Trintignant and legendary film and stage actor Jean-Louis Trintignant, was one of France’s best-loved actresses and Cantat lead singer and songwriter of Noir Désir, the most successful French rock band since Téléphone. The couple were almost celebrities despite themselves, maintaining a low media profile outside their professional activities.

Thousands of public mourners assembled to witness the arrival of Trintignant's coffin at the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris. Meanwhile, French women's groups organised public demonstrations, denouncing conjugal violence.

Fall-out has hit the French music world and the Noir Désir fan camp hard, too. This is hardly surprising when you consider that since the release of Noir Désir’s debut album (in 1987), Cantat has achieved rock idol status. Famed for his charismatic live performances, poetic songwriting and his militant and often outspoken stance on issues such as racism and globalisation, Cantat has become a sport of spokesperson for an entire generation - or, in any case, a man who, up until now, has incited admiration and respect.