Hélène Pastor (31 March 1937 – 21 May 2014) was a Monegasque businesswoman and heiress. She headed what is seen as Monaco’s ‘second dynasty’, and was the richest woman in the principality. She was assassinated by a gang that included her son-in-law, who was subsequently jailed for life in 2018.
She was the richest woman in Monaco.[14][15] Most of her wealth came from collecting rent.[6] In its obituary, The Daily Telegraph called her "the senior surviving member of what is, in effect, Monaco’s second dynasty after the ruling Grimaldis".[1] She was known in Monaco as "La Vice Princesse" (English: "The Vice Princess").[1][5]
On 6 May 2014, Pastor was traveling by car from the L' Archet Hospital in western Nice, France, where she had been visiting her son.[1][3][18] Minutes later, a gunman fired at her car, hitting both Pastor and her chauffeur, Mohamed Darouich.[1][3] She was rushed to the Saint Roch hospital in central Nice, and fell into a coma.[18] Darouich died from his injuries on 11 May.[19] Pastor woke up from her coma on 16 May,[20] but died five days later, on 21 May, at age 77.[2][5]
Upon her death, the Prince's Palace of Monaco released a statement saying, "HSH the Prince expresses his deep compassion to the children of Mrs Hélène Pastor-Pallanca at the announcement of her tragic passing."[4] Her funeral was attended by Albert II, Prince of Monaco.[16]
Christian Estrosi, the Mayor of Nice, released the following statement, "My thoughts go out to Gildo, Hélène Pastor’s son, as well as all of her relatives. I share their pain and grief. My thoughts also go out to all the Monégasques who were devastated by this tragedy."[4][21]
In June 2014, her son-in-law, Wojciech Janowski, admitted to being involved with her assassination.[16] In 2017, Janowski and nine more individuals, including fitness trainer Pascal Dauriac and his brother-in-law Abdelkader Belkhatir, were summoned to court over for a trial.[22][23] On 17 October 2018, Janowski was sentenced to life in prison.[19]
