Abdallah Aït Oud: as Fourniret goes to prison for life, the trial of Abdallah Aït Oud gets underway in Belgium.

(Nathalie and Stacy)

During the night of 9th/10th June 2006, Stacy Lemmens, aged 7, and Nathalie Mahy, aged 10, were abducted in Liège, Belgium, at the end of a jumble sale held in a popular area of Liège. Their bodies were found 18 days later in a drainage channel bordering a railway line. On May 26th, Abdallah Aït Oud went on trial at the assizes court in Liège for their abduction and murder.

The first session of the trial. on May 26th, was presided over by Stéphane Goux, who directed the trial of Marc Dutroux in 2004. The trial began with the constitution of the jury from the 100 potential jurors who had been called. The families of the victims were present on the opening day. The afternoon was taken up with an opening address from the presiding judge, Pascale Goossens, and from the investigators.
Abdallah Aït Oud denies all charges.

May 27th: on the second day of the trial, the morning was devoted to the witness statements of four police officers, who had been part of the investigating team. On a giant screen, the police showed images of the torso of the accused on the day of his arrest, with scratches and scrapes along his back and arms, thought to be from the thicket through which he had dragged the bodies to the drainage channel by the railway line. The accused explained that the day before the jumble sale he had wanted to get to his mate's apartment via the back way, and had had to go through an area of rough ground. The investigators demonstrated the inconsistency of this statement by showing slides of the area through which Abdallah Aït Oud would have passed on the way to his mate's apartment: an abandoned garden, the beginning of a path, a trunk, half on its side for climbing a first wall, a second low wall, and inner court yard, a side passageway with a door which was perhaps open, and finally the door to his friend's place.

The photographs show an area where the nettles and brambles are no taller than 30cm (c. 12") and not tall enough to injure below the waist.

Alain Remue, head of the missing person's organisation, gave details of the search for the two girls. He said that on the evening of June 19th, 10 days after the girls disappeared, there had been a terrific storm, which may have carried the bodies to the remote location in which they were found.

May 30th:

Cinquième jours de procès30 mai 2008

Stacy et Nathalie sont mortes par étranglement.

La matinée du cinquième jour du procès d'Abdallah Ait Oud a été consacrée vendredi aux auditions des médecins légistes devant la cour d'assises de Liège. Les expertises ont démontré que Stacy Lemmens et Nathalie Mahy sont mortes étranglées. Il a également pu être démontré que Nathalie Mahy a été violée avant d'être tuée.

Fifth day of the trial. Stacy and Natalie were strangled to death. The morning of the fifth day of Abdallah Ait Oud's trial on Friday, was devoted to evidence from the medical examiners before the Liège court of assizes. The experts demonstrated that Stacy and Nathalie were strangled to death. It was also demonstrated that Nathalie Mahy was raped before being killed.

Lors de cette journée consacrée aux expertises médico-légales, les parents des victimes n'ont pas souhaité assister à l'audience et subir le contenu des rapports des experts. Seule Catherine Dizier, la mère de Nathalie Mahy, était présente dans la salle d'audience pour écouter les médecins. Les jurés ont pu entendre en prélude aux dépositions des différents experts légistes le témoignage d'un homme de la Protection civile qui était occupé dans les recherches des victimes le jour de la découverte des corps de Stacy et Nathalie. C'est cet homme qui a découvert le premier corps le 28 juin 2006. Les experts ont également livré une approximation concernant la date du décès des deux victimes, en tenant comptes des éléments relevés lors de la découverte des corps. Pour les deux fillettes, les médecins estiment avec un maximum de probabilités que les décès remontent entre 15 jours et trois semaines au moment de la découverte. Il est donc estimé que les décès de Stacy et Nathalie sont survenus entre le 7 et le 13 juin 2006.

During that day, devoted to the medico-legal experts, the victims' parents did not wish to be present at the hearing and suffer the contents of the experts' reports. Only Catherine Dizier, Nathalie Mahy's mother, was present in the courtroom to listen to the doctors. As a prelude to the statements of the different legal experts, the jurors were able to hear the witness statement of a man from Civil Protection who was involved in the search on the day of the discovery of the bodies of Stacy and Nathalie. It was this man who discovered the first body on June 28th 2006. The experts also gave an approximation of the date of death of the two victims, taking into account the information revealed during the discovery of the bodies. For the two little girls, the doctors estimated that the deaths most probably occurred between two and three weeks before their discovery. It was therefore estimated that the deaths of Stacy and Nathalie occurred between June 7th and June 13th 2006.


la compagne de l'accusé a toujours confiance en lui.

A la barre, Christelle raconte les dernières heure passées en compagnie de son fiancé le jour de la braderie puis son absence inexpliquée. Au moment de la disparition des fillettes, elle sert au café "Les Armuriers". C'est pourquoi elle sera interrogée dans le cadre de l'enquête. C'est à cette occasion qu'elle apprend les antécédents judiciaires d'Abdallah Aït Oud. Et pourtant, le dimanche, quand elle sonne chez lui pour l'avertir de ce que la police le recherche, elle se garde de lui en donner les raisons. Je venais d'apprendre son passé dit-elle. S'agissant de petites filles, j'avais peur qu'il parte.

The partner of the accused still trusts him. At the bar, Christelle recounts the last hours spent in the company of her fiancé on the day of the jumble sale then his unexplained absence. At the time of the disappearance of the two little girls, she was serving in the café, "Les Armuriers." That is why she would be questioned in the context of the enquiry. It is on this occasion that she learns about Abdallah Aït Oud's previous criminal record. And yet, on the Sunday when she rings his house to warn him that the police are looking for him, she is careful about giving him the reasons for it. I had just learned about his past, she says. As it was about little girls, I was afraid that he would leave.

Depuis lors, elle connaît son histoire. Elle a pardonné. Et sur les faits qui lui sont aujourd'hui reprochés, elle le veut innocent. Cela ne fait aucun doute : cette jeune femme de 22 ans est toujours amoureuse de l'accusé. La teneur des courriers qu'elle lui envoie en prison en témoigne. Mais les sentiments qu'elle porte encore à celui qui est accusé de viol et d'assassinat de deux petites filles, l'amour qu'elle peut encore ressentir ne sont pas de nature à éclairer le dossier et participer à la manifestation de la vérité.

Since then, she has known his history. She forgave. And on the facts with which he is now charged, she wants him innocent. There is no doubt: this young woman aged 22 is still in love with the accused. The tenor of the letters she sends to him in prison bear witness to it. But the feelings she still carries for the one who is accused of rape and murder of two little girls, the love she can still feel, are not likely to shed light on the case and to involve the expression of the truth.

Une affaire de tortues :

Avant elle, la cour avait entendu une série de témoins. Et de ces auditions, les conclusions des avocats des familles sont sans appel : l'accusé est un fieffé menteur.

Plusieurs groupes de jeunes gens, le vendredi du drame, ont été abordés en divers endroits par un individu au crâne rasé, qui a proposé d'aller dans des parcs ou sur des pelouses à la recherche de tortues de jardin pour les revendre. Les uns se sont moqués ; d'autres se sont méfiés ; d'autres encore, ont suivi le personnage. Il ne s'est rien passé mais l'accusation pense tenir le mode opératoire de l'approche du prédateur, il nie mais les adolescents l'identifient, parfois à 100%. Mais un grand gamin de 14 ans, affirme, je l'ai accompagné sans crainte parce que des gens comme lui, j'en croise tous les jours.

A case of tortoises.

Before her, the court had heard a series of witnesses. And from those speeches, the conclusions of the families' lawyers are irrevocable: the accused is an utter liar.

On the Friday of the tragedy, several groups of young people had been approached in various places by an individual with a shaved head, who suggested going into the parks or onto the lawns to hunt for garden tortoises to sell. Some laughed; others were wary; others followed the person. Nothing happened, but the prosecution maintains it is the modus operandus of the predator's approach, he denies but the teenagers identify him, sometimes 100%. But a tall kid aged 14, states, I went with him without fear because people like him, I come across every day.

L'affaire des tortues, est-elle l'élément qui va confondre le prévenu ? Peut-être. Le conseil de l'un des parents, arbore d'ailleurs une cravate avec quelques reptiles à carapace comme motifs. Mais parmi les témoins, les uns décrivent un homme en état d'ébriété, bizarre, au regard jaune ; les autres, un type normal ; avec un T-shirt blanc, selon une fille ; un T-shirt noir, selon son amie. Allez donc savoir ….

The case of the tortoises, is it the detail which is going to unmask the accused? Perhaps. The advice of one of the parents, sporting a tie with motifs of several shelled reptiles. But amongst the witnesses, some describe a man in an enebriated state, odd, looking yellow; others, a normal type; with a white T shirt, according to one girl; a black T shirt, according to her friend. Go figure.....

Une lettre qui accuse "R.V".

Cette lettre, signée "R.A" est parvenue au palais de Justice à l'attention de l'avocat. Annexée à une photo de l'accusé, la lettre, rédigée en 6 points, stipule que celui-ci est innocent. La lettre signale que seule la petite Nathalie connaissait son agresseur et qu'il fallait donc chercher dans son entourage (famille et amis). L'auteur signale que les initiales de l'auteur sont "R.V." et que celui-ci était âgé entre 25 et 30 ans au moment des faits. 'auteur stipule aussi que les radiesthésistes permettent de retrouver certaines choses "n'en déplaisent à leurs détracteurs". Le courrier a été versé au dossier. (Belga/RTBF/Levif/7sur7)

A letter that accuses, "R.V."

This letter, signed, "R.A." turned up at the law court for the attention of the attorney. Attached to a photo of the accused, the letter, written out in 6 points, stipulates that this one is innocent. The letter reports that only little Nathalie knew her attacker and it was, therefore, necessary to look at those surrounding her (family and friends). the writer reports that the perpetrator's initials are "R.V." and that this one was aged between 25 and 30 years at the time of the deeds. The writer also reports that dowsers could find certain things, "not unpleasing to their detractors." The letter has been filed. (Belga/RTBF/Levif/7sur7)

http://www.kidnapping.be/belgique/index.html

30/05/08

Enfants Kidnappes 30/05/08 - abduction, murder child neglect and concealment of a corpse

Towards and indictment: Enfants Kidnappés article on the decision of the Court of Appeal not to allow the Portuguese police access to the mobile phone records of Gerry McCann.

Rapt, homicide, négligence envers enfant et occultation de cadavre...

Les parents McCann seraient sous le coup d'une procédure pour rapt, homicide, négligence et occultation de cadavre. C'est ce qui ressort d'une décision du Tribunal de la Relation d'Evora, publié par le Times. Cette décision, signée le 29 avril dernier, révèle aussi que le Ministère Public a voulu accéder aux messages (sms) échangés entre une dizaine de portables lors de la disparition de Madeleine. Deux de ces portables appartiendraient au couple McCann. Les autres seraient ceux des 7 amis du tapas. Une liste des appels effectués le 03 mai entre 20h00 et le lendemain 12h00 auraient été établies ainsi que la localisation des appels.

Abduction, murder, child neglect and concealment of a corpse.

The McCann parents would be under an action for abduction, murder, neglect and concealment of a corpse. This is what emerges from a decision of the Appeal Court of Evora, published by the Times. That decision, signed on April 29th, also reveals that the Public Ministry wanted to have access to messages (SMS) exchanged between a dozen mobiles at the time of Madeleine's disappearance. Two of these mobiles belong to the McCann couple. The others would be those of the seven tapas friends. A list of calls made on May 3rd between 8pm and the next day at 12 noon would have been established as well as the location of the calls.

Un malentendu.

Selon la presse, la demande pour obtenir cette liste ainsi que la copie des messages échangés auraient été refusés par le juge pour la deuxième fois. Il semblerait que ce ne soit pas là que réside le refus. En effet, la PJ a également demandé d'avoir accès aux conversations, messages envoyés (sms) et localisation des appels passés avant le 03 mai. Nous savons depuis un certain temps que la PJ s'intéresse de près à la journée du 02 mai. Or, il semblerait que ce soit ces "écoutes" là qui posent problème. Elles seraient considérées comme illégales car antérieures à la disparition de Madeleine. Par contre, elles seraient considérées comme légales si, par exemple, Madeleine avait disparu le 02 mai et non le 03 mai.

A misunderstanding.

According to the press, the request to obtain that list as well as copies of the exchanged messages would have been refused by the judge for the second time. It would appear that this is not where the refusal lies. In fact, the PJ also requested to have access to conversations, messages sent (SMS) and location of calls made before May 3rd. We have known for some time that the PJ had a keen interest in the day May 2nd. So, it would appear that it was the, "wiretaps," which presented a problem. They would be considered illegal being before Madeleine's disappearance. On the other hand, they could be considered legal if, for example, Madeleine had disappeared on May 2nd and not May 3rd.

Ce que les parents risquent

Rien n'a changé. Les parents risquent la même chose aujourd'hui, qu'hier. Quels sont les options qui s'offrent à eux ?

1 - Ils acceptent de se rendre au Portugal afin d'y être jugé (Dans l'hypothèse fort probable d'une accusation) et ils y subissent leur peine (Dans l'hypothèse d'une condamnation). Encore que la peine pourrait-être effectuée dans les prisons britanniques, c'est une possibilité. Ajoutons que selon toute vraisemblance, seul un des deux parents pourrait être condamné. Les jumeaux ne seraient ainsi pas laissés seuls.

What the parents are risking.

Nothing has changed. The parents are risking the same today as yesterday. What are the options open to them?

1) They agree to return to Portugal in order to be tried (In the very likely event of an indictment) and they undergo their sentence (In the event of a conviction). Although the sentence could be carried out in British prisons. It is a possibility. Moreover, in all likelihood, only one parent could be sentenced. The twins would therefore not be left alone.

2 - Ils refusent de répondre aux convocations officielles du Tribunal et ne se rendent pas au Portugal. Ils seront condamnés par défaut (si condamnation il y a). Dans ce cas, ils seront signalés à rechercher dans tout l'espace Schengen. Ce qui signifie qu'il leurs sera très difficile de voyager où que ce soit. En outre, au moindre contrôle de police, de la moindre police locale, dans le moindre village reculé, du moindre petit pays au sein de l'espace Schengen, les parents seront arrêtés car signalé au Bulletin Central de Signalement. Puis déféré vers un organisme intra-Schengen qui s'occupera de les envoyer dans le pays émetteur du signalement. Arrivé sur place, ils subiront leur peine. Ce contrôle de routine peut leur arriver dans leur pays d'origine, le Royaume-Uni qui fait partie de l'espace Schengen. Notons au passage, que dans ce cas les jumeaux seront placés.

2) They refuse to respond to the court summonses and don't go back to Portugal. They would be sentenced by default (if there were to be a sentence). In this case, there would be notices to find them throughout the whole Schengen area. This means that it will be very difficult for them to travel anywhere. Besides, in the smallest police controlled area, of the smallest local police force, in the smallest remote village, in the smallest little country in the Schengen area, the parents will be arrested because reported by the Central Reporting Bulletin, then referred to an intra-Schengen agency which would involve itself in sending them to the reporting country. Arriving there, they would carry out their sentence. This routine check could happen to them in their country of origin, the United Kingdom, which is part of the Schengen area. We note in passing that in this case the twins will be placed.

Enfin, pour faire taire les rumeurs: NON les parents ne risquaient rien en retournant au Portugal participer à la reconstitution. Ils n'ont pas été placés en préventive par la police. Ils ont même pu quitter le pays et rentrer dans le leur. Leur statut n'ayant pas changé, il n'y avait aucune raison de subitement les mettre en détention préventive. Ils ne risquaient, donc, absolument rien, n'y pour eux, n'y pour les jumeaux, en coopérant avec la PJ lors de cette reconstitution qui fut, finalement, annulée. Le risque pour eux et les jumeaux semble bien plus grand si la Ministère Public avance avec une accusation formelle et que les parents essayent de soustraire à la justice portugaise.

Finally, to silence the rumours, NO the parents risk nothing by returning to Portugal to participate in the reconstruction. They have not been placed on bail by the police. They have even been able to leave the country and return to their own. Their status not having changed, there is no reason to place them on remand. They, therefore, risk absolutely nothing, neither for themselves, nor for the twins, in cooperating with the PJ in this reconstruction which was, in the end, canceled. The risk for them indeed seems great if the Public Ministry goes forward with a formal indictment and the parents try to evade Portuguese law.

http://www.kidnapping.be/maddie/maddie.html

30/05/08

Fritzl children Stefan and Felix see the moon.

Quite often, as evening begins to draw in, my little grandson, now aged 20 months, starts talking about the moon. He wants to look out of his window if he is at home, or he scans the sky if he is out and about. The above photo is one that I found for him, printed and laminated following an evening when we went out looking for the moon and we returned home, with a little laddie telling his mum, lips quivering and tears rolling gently down his cheeks, "Moooooon gone. Mooooon gone." I have been surprised by such a young child's fascination for the moon, which I associate with his having been born on the day of a lunar eclipse, but his mum, who gives no credence to such things, disagrees. That doesn't matter, though. She will always be my star!

I have just come back from a few days of sharing a holiday on the coast with my grandson and his mum and dad. Three adults derived immense delight from seeing a small child wriggling his toes in the sand, filling his bucket with water, and leaping with shrieks of joy in the little waves washing over the sand. On the way back to our holiday house, he was looking for the moon, but there was no inconsolable sadness when we did not spot it: he now knows that the moon hasn't gone and if we don't see it today, we can look tomorrow.

As I was sitting here in my little house, wondering what it would be like if my whole world were the small room in which I was sitting, and I couldn't draw the curtains back on the large bay window and see the trees, or go into the kitchen, where the door is open on fine days so that I can hear the birds, go and sit out there with a book, watch the squirrel eat all the nuts I put out for the birds, I decided to see what the latest news was about the Fritzl family. The Daily Telegraph has some very good articles on the subject, but the one that I found really poignant was about Stefan, aged 18, and Felix, aged 5, seeing the moon for the first time.

"The best bit though was when they saw the moon. They were just open mouthed with awe, and were nudging each other and pointing. They had never even seen the moon." *

Since this case first erupted into the media and the whole horror of it began to be known, I have tried to imagine what it must have been like to emerge from a small, windowless space, in which one has spent one's entire life, to the seeming vastness of the real world, where the wind blows through the trees, a wind that may have been born many many miles and dreams away as a butterfly beat its wings in an unimaginable place over the unknown seas. The image of Stefan and Felix, being led from their dim underground world at night, sitting in a car, suddenly seeing the moon for the first time and being awe-struck, is a vivid picture in my mind of their faces, alight with wonder at the sudden vastness of their world. Suddenly the world above Stefan's head is not a low ceiling but the endless dome of the heavens, where the moon travels her daily orbit.

When I next go moon-gazing with my little grandson, I shall thank God that Stefan and Felix are out in the world, under that same moon. And I shall thank God for their mother, who has, in that dim and restricted cave of their underground world, managed to instill in her children the capacity for delight, wonder and happiness. May those children always know that they are safe and secure in their expanded world and find their unique place in it.

*Daily Telegraph April 30th 2008

Fourniret and Olivier given life sentences, but the law is not finished with them.

Fourniret and Olivier are facing further murder charges according to Enfants Kidnappés.

29 mai 2008

Condamnés à perpétuité, Fourniret et Olivier n'en n'ont pas fini avec la justice. Après un procès-fleuve de deux mois qui s'est soldé mercredi par une double condamnation à la prison à vie, se profilent déjà pour les époux Fourniret d'autres rendez-vous avec la justice, au moins dans deux dossiers de meurtres où ils sont mis en cause en France. Michel Fourniret a été condamné mercredi par la cour d'assises des Ardennes à la réclusion criminelle à perpétuité incompressible, la peine maximale du code pénal, et son épouse et complice Monique Olivier à la perpétuité assortie d'une période de 28 ans de sûreté.

Given life sentences, Fourniret and Olivier are not finished with the law. After a lengthy trial of two months, which resulted on Wednesday in a double life sentence, other appointments with the law are already looming for the Fourniret spouses, at least in two cases of murder in which they are under investigation in France. On Wednesday Michel Fourniret was sentenced by the Ardennes court of assizes to a whole life sentence, the maximum sentence under the penal code, and his wife and accomplice Monique Olivier to a life sentence with a minimum of 28 years.

Le couple devrait encore comparaître aux assises pour les meurtres de Joanna Parrish et Marie-Angèle Domèce, lui notamment pour assassinat, elle pour complicité. La condamnation de Michel Fourniret et de son épouse Monique Olivier ne met pas un terme à "notre quête de justice", ont indiqué mercredi les parents de la Britannique Joanna Parrish, pour le meurtre duquel Fourniret a été inculpé mais pas encore jugé. Joanna Parrish, une Britannique de 20 ans, avait été violée et tuée en 1990 près d'Auxerre, dans le centre de la France.

The couple will still have to appear at the assizes for the murders of Joanna Parrish and Marie-Angèle Domèce, him notably for murder, her for complicity. The sentencing of Michel Fourniret and his wife Monique Olivier does not put an end to, "our quest for justice," was indicated on Wednesday by the parents of the British woman Joanna Parrish, for the murder of whom Michel Fourniret has been accused but not yet tried. Joanna Parrish, a British woman aged 20, had been raped and killed in 1990 near Auxerre, in the middle of France.

Michel Fourniret a été inculpé en mars pour cet assassinat, ainsi que celui de Marie-Angèle Domèce, une handicapée de 19 ans disparue le 8 juillet 1988 et dont le corps n'a jamais été retrouvé. Ces deux affaires n'ont pas encore été jugées. Monique Olivier a accusé en février 2005 son mari d'avoir tué les deux jeunes femmes, ce que Michel Fourniret a toujours nié. Mais les parents de Joanna espèrent avoir la confirmation que l'homme condamné en France est bien l'assassin de leur fille.

Michel Fourniret was accused of that murder in March, as well as that of Marie-Angèle Domèce, a disabled woman aged 19, who disappeared on July 18th 1988 and whose body has never been found. These two cases have not yet been tried. In February 2005, Monique Olivier accused her husband of having killed the two young women, which Michel Fourniret has always denied. But Joanna's parents hope to have confirmation that the man sentenced in France is indeed their daughter's killer.

Une confrontation entre Michel Fourniret et Monique Olivier aura lieu "entre le 20 et le 30 juin" au tribunal de Charleville-Mézières, dans le cadre de l'enquête sur le meurtre de Joanna Parrish, a annoncé mercredi l'avocat de la famille. Ce meurtre est l'un des onze imputés à Fourniret par son épouse, mais il ne compte pas parmi les sept qui viennent d'être jugés dans un procès de deux mois achevé mercredi à Charleville.

A confrontation between Michel Fourniret and Monique Olivier will take place, "between the 20th and the 30th of June," at the Charleville-Mézières court, in the context of the enquiry into the murder of Joanna Parrish, the family's lawyer announced on Wednesday. This murder is one of the eleven imputed to Fourniret by his wife, but it does not count among the seven which have just been judged in the two-month trial concluded Wednesday in Charleville.

Après deux mois de débats et 24 heures de délibérations, la cour a suivi les réquisitions de l'avocat général pour Fourniret, 66 ans, reconnu coupable de sept meurtres aggravés de jeunes femmes ou adolescentes entre 1987 et 2001, et de trois agressions d'autres jeunes filles ayant réussi à lui échapper. Il écope de la peine la plus lourde de l'arsenal juridique, déjà appliqué au moins trois fois depuis 2006 dans des affaires de meurtres ou tentatives de meurtre d'enfants accompagnés de viols.

After two months of debates and 24 hours of deliberation, the court has followed the requisitions of the Attorney General for Fourniret, aged 66, found guilty of seven aggravated murder of young women and teenagers between 1987 and 2001, and three assaults on other young girls who succeeded in escaping from him. He copped for the heaviest penalty in the legal arsenal, already applied at least three times since 2006 in cases of murder or attempted murder of children accompanied by rape.

Monique Olivier, 59 ans, qui était poursuivie comme coauteure d'un des sept meurtres, a été reconnue coupable de complicité dans ce crime, comme dans trois autres meurtres et le viol en réunion d'Isabelle Laville, tuée en 1987 dans l'Yonne. Elle échappe à la période de sûreté de 30 ans, mais ne pourra déposer de demande d'aménagement de peine ou de libération conditionnelle avant 28 ans. Son avocat Richard Delgenés, qui souhaitait qu'elle n'écope pas de la peine maximale applicable et qu'elle soit blanchie de l'accusation de meurtre de Jeanne-Marie Desramault en 1989, s'est réjoui d'avoir été "entendu sur ces deux points" par les trois magistrats et les neuf jurés. Il a précisé qu'il discuterait avec Monique Olivier jeudi ou vendredi d'un éventuel appel, hypothèse que Fourniret a d'ores et déjà écartée par la voix d'un avocat mardi. Les condamnés ont dix jours pour se décider.

Monique Olivier, aged 59, who was prosecuted as co-perpetrator in one of the seven murders, was found guilty of complicity in that crime, as in three other murders and being involved in the rape of Isabelle Laville, killed in 1987 in Yonne. She escaped a prison term of 30 years, but will not be able to apply for parole before 28 years. Her lawyer Richard Delgenés, who wanted her not to cop for the maximum applicable penalty and to be cleared of the charge of Jeanne-Marie Desramault's murder in 1989, was delighted at having been, "heard on these two points." by the three magistrates and the nine jurors. He stated that he would discuss a possible appeal with Monique Olivier on Thursday or Friday, an idea which Fourniret had already ruled out via his lawyer on Tuesday. The condemned have ten days to decide.

A l'énoncé du verdict, Fourniret, les cheveux et la barbe fraîchement coupés, est resté figé, les yeux fermés. Olivier, également debout dans le box, n'a eu aucune réaction non plus, demeurant les bras ballants. Face à eux, les proches des victimes, serrés sur les bancs des parties civiles, ont contenu leur émotion, certains s'échangeant des accolades, d'autres essuyant une larme. Me Gérard Chemla, un avocat emblématique des parties civiles, a salué "une décision saine" de la cour d'assises. "Cela montre que la justice reste mesurée mais aussi particulièrement sévère car les faits sont particulièrement abominables", a-t-il dit devant la presse. "C'est une décision intelligente", a renchéri le père d'une victime, la mère d'une autre avouant "respirer" enfin après avoir craint que Monique Olivier "ait beaucoup moins".

At the announcement of the verdict, Fourniret, his hair and his beard freshly cut, remained still, his eyes closed. Olivier, also standing in the box, showed no reaction either, arms dangling at her side. Facing them, the victims' relatives, lined up on the benches for the civil parties, contained their emotion, some exchanging congratulations, others wiping a tear. Me Gérard Chemla, a legendary lawyer for the civil parties, welcomed, "a sound decision," of the court of assizes. "That shows that justice remains measured but also particularly severe because the facts are particularly abominable." he said before the press. "It is an intelligent decision," added the father of one victim, the mother of another , confessing to finally, "breathing," after having feared that Monique Olivier, "had a lot less."

La perpétuité incompressible a pu s'appliquer à Fourniret en raison du viol et de l'assassinat de Mananya Thumpong, 13 ans, tuée dans les Ardennes en 2001, après le durcissement en 1994 des modalités d'obtention d'un aménagement de peine après trente ans d'incarcération. Les époux ont déjà effectué respectivement cinq et quatre ans de détention provisoire, lui depuis son arrestation en juin 2003 après un enlèvement manqué en Belgique, elle depuis l'année suivante quand elle est passée aux aveux devant les enquêteurs belges après quelque 120 interrogatoires. Pendant le procès ouvert le 27 mars, le couple n'a que très peu dévoilé sa dynamique criminelle entretenue pendant seize ans. Hormis lors de quatre audiences faites essentiellement de digressions, Fourniret est resté fidèle à son voeu de silence faute de procès à huis clos. Monique Olivier n'a cessé de minimiser son implication et prononcé des regrets du bout des lèvres.

Whole life without parole could be applied to Fourniret for reason of the rape and murder of Mananya Thumpong, aged 13, killed in the Ardennes in 2001, after the tightening of the rules for applying for parole after thirty years incarceration. The spouses have already served respectively five and four years on remand, him since his arrest in June 2003 after the failed abduction in Belgium, her since the following year when she made her confessions before the Belgian investigators after some 120 interrogations. During the trial, which opened on March 27th, the couple revealed only very little of their criminal dynamic, maintained for sixteen years. Except during four hearings done essentially in digressions, Fourniret remained true to his vow of silence without the trial being held in camera. Monique Olivier did not stop minimising her involvement and pronouncing her regret through pouted lips.

http://www.kidnapping.be/fourniret/index.html

29/05/08

SOS Madeleine McCann 29/05/08 - Investigators would like to unmask the tenth, "Tapas."

The tenth, "Tapas."? Well, there has been speculation, for some time now, on various internet forums about there having been a, "Tenth Tapas," sitting at the table with Kate and Gerry et al. The subject has been turned over several times at the 3 Arguidos.* Today, Duarte Levy takes up the baton. Let's see how he runs with it!

* http://the3arguidos.net

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/
Enquêteurs voulaient confondre le 10éme "Tapas"

"Le refus d’accès au contenu des messages écrits reçus par Gerry McCann avant et après la disparition de sa fille Madeleine, ou le refus des Tapas neuf de revenir au Portugal, ne vont pas empêcher les inspecteurs de progresser dans leur enquête," affirme un responsable de la Police Judiciaire après la divulgation hier de la décision du Tribunal de la Relation d’Évora.

Investigators would like to unmask the 10th, "Tapas."

"The refusal of access to the contents of text messages received by Gerry McCann before and after his daughter Madeleine's disappearance, or the refusal of the Tapas nine to come back to Portugal, is not going to prevent the inspectors from making progress with their enquiry," states an officer of the PJ after the disclosure yesterday of the Portuguese Supreme court's decision.

Selon la même source, avec leur accès au contenu des messages écrits reçus par Gerry McCann, "les enquêteurs voulaient confondre un personnage encore dans l’ombre mais que la police sait être liée à l’affaire".

Certains inspecteurs parlent même du 10 éme Tapas.

According to the same source, with their access to the contents of the text messages received by Gerry McCann, "the investigators would like to unmask someone still in the shadows but whom the police know to be linked to the case."
Some inspectors are even talking about a 10th Tapas.

L’existence d’un dixième personnage, connu de Gerry et Kate McCann, est un fait également soutenu au Royaume-Uni où un membre de l’Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) à confirmé que "les officiers envoyés au Portugal avaient même suggéré quelques possibilités parmi les britanniques qui habitent en permanence la région d’Algarve".

The existence of a tenth person, known to Gerry and Kate McCann, is a fact also supported in the United Kingdom where a member of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) confirmed that, "the police officers who were sent to Portugal even suggested a few possibilities from amongst the British people who live permanently in the Algarve region."

Hier, un arrêt du Tribunal de la Relation d’Évora est venu soutenir la décision du juge d'instruction criminelle de Portimão, Pedro Frias, qu’avait interdit l’accès des enquêteurs de la Police Judiciaire au contenu des messages écrits (SMS) reçus par Gerry McCann.

Yesterday, a ruling by the Appeal Court of Evora supported the decision of Portimao's investigating judge, Pedro Frais, who had banned access by the PJ investigators to the contents of text messages (SMS) received by Gerry McCann.

Selon le document, le papa de Madeleine McCann a reçu 14 messages écrits le 2 mai, la veille de la disparition de sa fille, au départ d’un numéro de téléphone officiellement non identifié. Le même portable est à l’origine de 4 autres messages que Gerry McCann à reçu après la disparition.

According to the document, Madeleine mcCann's father received 14 text messages on May 2nd, the day before his daughter's disappearance, from an officially unidentified number. The same mobile is the source of four other messages which Gerry McCann received after the disappearance.

Gerry et Kate McCann ont toujours refusé de divulguer aux enquêteurs le contenu des messages, ce que n’a pas empêché la police d’obtenir ces renseignements.

C’est l’utilisation du contenu de ces informations, notamment dans un procès, qui est mise en cause par la décision du juge d'instruction criminelle.

Gerry and Kate McCann have always refused to disclose the contents of the messages to the investigators, which has not prevented the police from obtaining the information.

It is the use of the details of this information, notably in a trial, which is called into question by the decision of the investigating judge.

Selon le même document, le premier arrêt de justice divulgué jusqu’à présent publiquement, les investigations de la Police Judiciaire, suite à la disparition de Madeleine, portent bien sur l’éventualité des crimes d’abandon, mise en danger, homicide et dissimulation de cadavre.

Pour rappel, l’Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) et la police du Leicestershire, ont collaboré dans l’enquête des autorités portugaises, comme l’a confirmée Patricia Scotland, Ministre d'Etat et Attorney General pour l'Angleterre et le Pays de Galles.

According to the same document, the first legal ruling to be disclosed publicly until now, the PJ's investigations, following Madeleine's disappearance, are concerned with the the possibility of the crimes of abandonment, endangerment, murder and concealment of a body.

As a reminder, the Association of Chief Police officers (ACPO) and the Leicestershire police, have collaborated in the enquiry with the Portuguese authorities, as confirmed by Patricia Scotland, Minister of State and Attorney General for England and Wales.

Si la décision du juge empêche l’utilisation des donnés antérieurs à la disparition de Madeleine, elle n’a pas empêché les enquêteurs d’en prendre connaissance des appels et les inspecteurs savent qui à parlé avec qui.

If the judge's decision prevents the use of digital data prior to Madeleine's disappearance, it has not prevented the investigators from having knowledge of the calls and the inspectors know who spoke to whom.

Les hommes de Gonçalo Amaral, aujourd’hui remplacé par l’inspecteur Paulo Rebelo, ont eu également l’occasion de procéder à des écoutes téléphoniques après la disparition de Madeleine et pendant que le couple et ses amis se trouvaient au Portugal. Une fois le couple et ses amis de retour au Royaume-Uni, la PJ attendait des autorités britanniques la continuation du travail mais il est encore incertain si toutes les informations ont pu leur être communiquées.

Goncalo Amaral's officers, Amaral now replaced by inspector Paulo Rebelo, also had the opportunity to conduct wiretaps after Madeleine's disappearance and while the couple and their friends were in Portugal. Once the couple and their friends returned to the United Kingdom, the PJ expected the British authorities to continue the work but it is still uncertain if all the information could be communicated to them.

Selon l’interprétation donnée par le juge d’instruction criminelle du Tribunal de 1ª instance de Portimão, Pedro Frias, à la législation portugaise, confirmée par le Tribunal de la Relation, les enquêteurs peuvent uniquement utiliser les données obtenus en temps réel. Dans la pratique, il aurait fallu aux enquêteurs avoir obtenu une autorisation avant la disparition de Madeleine.

According to the interpretation of Portuguese law, given by Portimao's Supreme Court's investigating judge, Pedro Frais, confirmed by the "Appeal Court", the investigators can only use the digital data obtained in real time. In practice, it would have been necessary for the investigators to have obtained authorisation before Madeleine's disappearance.

Pedro Frias n’a pas refusé l’utilisation ou l’accès à toutes les écoutes ou enregistrements effectués dans le cadre de l’enquête, mais il n’accorde aux enquêteurs le droit d’utiliser le contenu des SMS envoyés et reçus par le couple McCann avant le 3 mai 2007.

Le Ministère Public et la Police Judiciaire voulaient également demander aux trois operateurs de téléphonie mobile existent au Portugal – TMN, Vodafone et Optimus – les listings sous support digital (CD ou DVD) de toutes les communications concernant le couple et ses amis pour la période du 28 avril au 9 septembre 2007.

Pedro Frais has not refused the use or access to all wiretaps or recordings made in the context of the enquiry, but he did not give the investigators the right to use the contents of SMS sent and received by the McCann couple before May 3rd 2007.

The Public Ministry and the PJ would also like to ask the three mobile phone operators operating in Portugal - TMN, Vodafone and Optimus - to provide in digital format (CD or DVD) the records of all communications concerning the couple and their friends for the period April 28th to September 9th 2007.

L’urgence de faire passer l’image d’un "Tapas sept" uni et solide

L’annonce par le cabinet du Procureur Générale de la République (PGR) de l’annulation de la reconstitution demandé par la Police Judiciaire, indiquant que cette décision était la conséquence du refus de quatre amis des parents de Madeleine d’effectuer leur voyage de retour à Praia da Luz, à provoqué un énorme tolet obligeant Clarence Mitchell à réagir.

The importance of getting across the image of a, "Tapas seven," united and strong.

The announcement from the office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic (PGR) of the cancellation of the reconstruction requested by the PJ, indicating that this decision was the result of the refusal of four of Madeleine's parents' friends to undertake their return trip to Praia da Luz, provoked an enormous row forcing Clarence Mitchell to react.

Si l’annulation de la diligence n’était pas une véritable surprise, la confirmation par le PGR de qu’il y aurait que quatre témoins à refuser de collaborer officiellement avec les autorités portugaise soulève une question : pourquoi les autres trois ont’ ils accepté, sans aucune condition, de coopérer avec les autorités portugaises ?

If the cancellation of the action was not a real surprise, the confirmation by the PGR that there were four witnesses refusing to collaborate officially with the Portuguese authorities raised a question: why did the other three accept, without any conditions, to cooperate with the Portuguese authorities?

La question devenant gênante, surtout après que l’information soit arrivée dans les médias britanniques, le responsable en communication du couple McCann s’est empressé de dire que finalement "tout le groupe ne voulait pas retourner au Portugal".

The question becoming annoying, above all after the information made it into the British media, the McCann couple's spokesperson hastened to say that in the end, "the whole group did not want to return to Portugal."

Sans jamais s’attaquer à la note du cabinet du Procureur, le spécialiste en manipulation des médias s’est attaché à justifier la décision du couple McCann et de ses quatre amis, voulant à tout prix calmer l’opinion public et faire passer l’image d’un groupe solide et uni contre la police portugaise, oubliant volontairement que l’enquête à la disparition de Madeleine est un travail conjoint avec la police britannique.

Without ever attacking the note from the Prosecutor's office, the specialist in media manipulation sought to justify the decision of the McCann couple and their four friends, wishing at all costs to calm public opinion and to get across the image of a group, strong and united against the Portuguese police, choosing to forget that the enquiry into Madeleine's disappearance is a joint work with the British police.

http://sosmaddie.dhblogs.be/

29/05/08

Addendum: 24horas gives the names of four members of the Tapas Seven whom the journal identifies as being the ones who refused to return to Portugal for the reconstruction of the events of May 3rd 2007.

"Dois casais recusaram-se a regressar a Portugal para colaborar com a Judiciária na reconstituição dos acontecimentos de 3 de Maio, dia em que Madeleine McCann desapareceu de um apartamento da Praia da Luz, em Lagos, Algarve. E entre os motivos para a nega, apurou o 24horas, esteve o facto de Jane Tanner, Russel O’Brian, Rachel e Matthew Oldfield terem receio de ser também constituídos arguidos."

"Two couples refused to return to Portugal to cooperate with the PJ in the reenactment of the 3rd of May of 2007. Amongst the motives to refuse, the 24 Horas discovered that it was the fact that Jane Tanner, Russel O'Brien, Rachel and Matthew Oldfield were afraid of being constituted arguidos."

(Translation by Li at the 3 Arguidos.)

http://www.the3arguidos.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13866

(The discussion is to be found via the above link.)

As Fourniret goes to prison for the rest of his life, I honour Céline, Elisabeth, Estelle, Fabienne, Isabelle, Jeanne-Marie, Joanna, Mananya, Natacha

The Fourniret verdict is in:
Fourniret: 30 years before being considered for parole. (The most severe sentence allowed in French law.)
Olivier: 28 years before being considered for parole.

Sky News

BBC News

Today, as the Fourniret trial ends, I ask you to remember these nine beautiful young women, whose lives were tragically cut short. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of these young people. May they come to know some degree of closure and peace in their lives.

Enfants Kidnappés 27/05/08 - Fourniret wants to stay in the spotlight.

(The families of the victims.)

The Fourniret trial enters its final phase, with the summing up by the defence and the jury expected to retire to reach a verdict on Wednesday.

http://www.kidnapping.be/fourniret/index.html

Les familles des victimes*

Les familles des sept jeunes filles que Michel Fourniret a reconnu avoir tuées entre 1987 et 2001, ont formé un groupe uni et solidaire pendant les deux mois de procès devant les assises des Ardennes pour demander la vérité et surmonter les moments éprouvants du procès. "Pendant ces huit semaines terribles, vous avez fait preuve d'une force mentale exceptionnelle", a déclaré aux familles l'avocat général Francis Nachbar, en préambule de son réquisitoire, en leur souhaitant de trouver "l'apaisement" après ce "moment terrifiant".

The victims' families.

The families of the seven young girls whom Michel Fourniret admitted having killed between 1987 and 2001, formed a united and supportive group during the two months of the trial before the Ardennes Assizes to seek the truth and to cope with the difficult moments of the trial. "During these eight terrible weeks, you have shown exceptional mental strength," the Attorney General, Francis Nachbar, said to the families in the introduction to his arraignment, wishing for them to find, "calmness," after this, "terrifying time."

Soutenues par des psychologues et des responsables d'association d'aide aux victimes, elles ont toujours fait bloc pour supporter l'éprouvante lecture de l'acte d'accusation ou regarder Fourniret détailler froidement une mise à mort dans des aveux filmés en 2004 et diffusés à l'audience. Dès l'ouverture du procès le 27 mars, des membres des familles avaient expliqué devant des journalistes avoir passé symboliquement un "pacte de solidarité" en réponse au "pacte criminel" conclu par Michel Fourniret et son épouse Monique Olivier.

Supported by psychologists and representatives of the Victims' aid association, they have always formed a bloc to support the difficult reading of the indictment or to watch Fourniret coldly detailing a killing in his confessions, filmed in 2004 and screened at the hearing. From the opening of the trial on March 27th, the family members had explained to the journalists that they had symbolically agreed a, "pact of solidarity," in response to the, "criminal pact," signed by Michel Fourniret and his wife Monique Olivier.

Comme un rituel au début de l'examen de chaque dossier, les parents sont venus, à l'invitation du président de la cour Gilles Latapie, évoquer à la barre le souvenir des victimes. Inhabituelle lors d'un procès d'assises, cette démarche a donné lieu à des moments de forte émotion, marqués par d'intenses face-à-face avec les deux accusés. "Vous êtes une mère, mais vous n'êtes pas une maman!", a ainsi crié à l'adresse de Monique Olivier la mère d'Isabelle Laville, tuée en 1987.

Like a ritual, at the start of the consideration of each case, the parents came, at the invitation of the president of the court, Gilles Latapie, to bring to the witness box, memories of the victims. Unusual for an assizes trial, this approach resulted in moments of strong emotion, marked by intense face-to-face with the two accused. "You are a mother, but you are not a mum!" was shouted at Monique Olivier by the mother of Isabelle Laville, killed in 1987.

De son côté, le père de Céline Saison, assassinée en 2000, a imposé à l'accusé de le regarder dans les yeux, lui assénant: "J'ai tellement de haine que si la vie me le permet, j'irai cracher sur votre tombe". "Merci de vous être tu, merci de ne pas avoir ajouté, à la cruauté de vos actes, la cruauté de vos paroles", l'a aussi remercié ironiquement Brice Longhini, le beau-père de Mananya Thumpong, tuée en 2001, dans une allusion au "Sans huis clos, bouche cousue" formulé par Fourniret.

On his part, the father of Céline Saison, killed in 2000, forced the accused to look him in the eyes, hurling at him, "I have such hatred that if life permits, I will spit on your grave." "Thank you for being you, thank you for not having added to the cruelty of your actions the cruelty of your words," Brice Longhini, step-father of Mananya Thumpong, killed in 2001, also ironically thanked him, alluding to, "Without huis clos, mouth sealed," formulated by Fourniret.

Les parents d'Isabelle et de Fabienne, tuée en 1988, ont refusé de recevoir de l'accusé des explications écrites sur les derniers instants de leurs filles. La famille de Natacha Danais, retrouvée morte en 1990, a opposé une fin de non-recevoir aux deux heures de huis clos demandées par Fourniret, après la mise en évidence d'un possible viol post-mortem sur l'adolescente. C'est aussi "à l'unanimité" qu'elles ont décidé de déserter momentanément les bancs des parties civiles le 17 mai pour protester contre la volte-face de l'accusé, qui venait de revenir sur sa parole de s'exprimer sur les faits.

Au premier jour des plaidoiries des parties civiles, les membres des familles se sont tous présentés une rose blanche à la main en hommage aux jeunes filles disparues.

The parents of Isabelle and Fabienne, killed in 1988, refused to receive from the accused written explanations about their daughters' last moments. The family of Natacha Danais, found dead in 1990, rejected pleas by Fourniret for a two hour session in camera, after the disclosure of a possible post-mortem rape on the teenager. It was also, "unanimous," when they decided to momentarily leave the benches for the civil parties on May 17th to protest against the about-face of the accused, who had just gone back on his promise to explain the facts.

On the first day of the oral arguments for the civil parties, the family members all carried a white rose in honour of the missing young girls.

Fourniret veut garder la vedette jusqu'à la fin.*

Michel Fourniret a voulu garder la vedette jusqu'au dernier jour de son procès qui devait vraisemblablement se conclure mercredi par une condamnation à la prison à vie, dont son avocat a déjà indiqué qu'il ne ferait pas appel. Mardi, la cour d'assises des Ardennes, qui juge les époux Fourniret depuis le 27 mars pour une série de sept meurtres aggravés de jeunes filles, s'est retirée pour délibérer peu après 15H00, à la suite d'un nouveau coup d'éclat du principal accusé.

Fourniret wants to keep the spotlight right to the end.

Michel Fourniret has wanted to keep the spotlight until the last day of his trial, which will most likely conclude on Wednesday with a sentence of life imprisonment, on which his lawyer has already indicated, he will not appeal. On Tuesday, the Ardennes court of assizes, which has been trying the Fourniret couple since March 27th for a series of seven aggravated murders of young girls, retired to deliberate, a little after 3pm, following a new outburst by the principal accused.

Invité à s'exprimer en dernier, Michel Fourniret, 66 ans, s'est emparé d'un texte préparé à l'avance, rédigé pour partie en alexandrins, et dans une lecture d'une quinzaine de minutes a distribué ses bons et mauvais points aux acteurs du procès. Après avoir salué "plusieurs voix" sur les bancs des parties civiles, d'où parfois, selon lui, "a jailli l'étincelle", Michel Fourniret a enchaîné à l'adresse de l'avocat général Francis Nachbar: "il n'en fut pas de même, c'est sans surprise hélas, de la part d'un roquet". Il s'est en pris plusieurs fois au "petit Francis" - qui l'avait traité de "petit Fourniret" -, avant de réserver ses dernières piques à son épouse Monique Olivier, 59 ans, "une pauvre bonne femme incapable de nuire à quiconque individuellement"

Invited to speak last, Michel Fourniret, aged 66, grasped a pre-prepared text, composed partly in Alexandrine verse, and in a fifteen minute reading, he handed out his good and bad points to the actors in the trial. After having saluted, "several voices," on the civil parties' benches, from where, according to him, sometimes, "sparks flew," Michel Fourniret went on to address the Attorney General Francis Nachbar: "he has not been up to it, not surprising alas, for a yappy little dog." Several times he attacked, "little Francis" - who had treated him as, "little Fourniret" - before reserving his final cutting remarks for his wife Monique Olivier, aged 59, "a poor old woman, incapable of personally harming anyone."

Francis Nachbar avait requis jeudi les peines les plus lourdes du code pénal contre le couple, à savoir la réclusion criminelle à perpétuité assortie de mesures de sûreté différenciées pour l'un et l'autre en fonction de la date des crimes reprochés. Il les avait qualifiés de "fêlés" et de "criminels inhumains", des termes sur lesquels il a tenu à s'expliquer publiquement mardi après la clôture des débats, dans une démarche peu commune. "C'est le dossier qui est nauséabond (...), pas les mots utilisés", a-t-il justifié devant des dizaines de journalistes.

On Thursday Francis Nachbar had requested the penal code's heaviest sentences against the couple, namely life sentence with different minimum terms for each, as a ratio of the crimes committed. He had described them as, "bonkers," and as, "inhuman criminals," terms on which he committed himself to speak publicly on Tuesday after the closing debates, in an unusual approach, "It is the case that is nauseating (....), not the words used," he justifed himself before dozens of journalists.

La cour, qui devrait rendre son verdict mercredi après-midi, s'est exceptionnellement retirée pour délibérer, non au tribunal, mais dans une caserne de CRS à Charleville-Mézières, afin de répondre à un total de 75 questions. Dans la dernière plaidoirie, Me Pierre Blocquaux, avocat de Michel Fourniret, s'exprimant au nom d'une défense réduite au silence par l'accusé depuis le début du procès, a annoncé que son client ne ferait pas appel de la condamnation à venir et a pris le contre-pied de M. Nachbar en appelant à le juger comme un homme. Fourniret "appartient à notre humanité, hélas, quel que soit le caractère horrible des actes qu'il a pu commettre", a affirmé l'avocat, après avoir confié "l'épreuve" vécue lors de "ces deux mois épouvantables (...) au fond de l'horreur". Me Blocquaux a comparé la vie de l'accusé à "un champ de ruines" avec, outre les jeunes femmes ou adolescentes tuées, de multiples victimes "collatérales", telles une des filles de Fourniret qui s'est suicidée en 2006 "parce qu'elle ne supportait plus le poids de toutes ces affaires".

The court, which may deliver its verdict on Wednesday afternoon, unusually reitred to deliberate, not in the courthouse, but in the CRS barracks in Charleville-Mézières, in order to respond to a total of 75 questions. In the final oral arguments, Me Pierre Blocquaux, Michel Fourniret's lawyer, speaking on behalf of a defence reduced to silence by the accused since the start of the trial, announced that his client would not appeal the sentence to come and took the opposite stance to M. Nachbar in calling for him to be judged as a man. Fourniret, "belongs to the human race, alas, whatever the horrible character of the acts he may have committed," stated the lawyer, after having shared the, "test," lived through, "these two awful months (...) in the depths of the horror." Me Blocquaux compared the life of the accused to, "a field of ruins," with, as well as young girls and teenagers killed, many, "colateral," victims, such as one of Fourniret's daughters who committed suicide in 2006, "because she could no longer bear the weight of all these cases."

Il a de nouveau évoqué les "occasions manquées" d'arrêter un homme déjà condamné par le passé pour des agressions sexuelles, citant entre autres le classement sans suite par le parquet d'Auxerre de la plainte du père de la première victime, Isabelle Laville, tuée fin 1987 dans l'Yonne. Au total Fourniret doit répondre de sept meurtres de jeunes filles précédés de viol ou tentative, commis en France et en Belgique entre 1987 et 2001. Monique Olivier est accusée d'être co-auteure d'un des meurtres et complice de trois autres.

"Je regrette tout ce que j'ai fait. C'est tout", a simplement déclaré cette dernière mardi.

He (Fourniret's lawyer) again referred to the, "missed opportunities," to stop a man, already sentenced in the past for sexual assaults, citing amongst others the Auxerre prosecutor's classifying as non-action, the report from the father of the first victim, Isabelle Laville, killed at the end of 1987 in Yonne. In total Fourniret must answer for seven murders of young girls preceeded by rape or attempted rape, committed in France and Belgium between 1987 and 2001. Monique Olivier is accused of being co-perpetrator of one murder and complicity in three others.

"I regret everything that I have done. That is all," the latter stated simply on Tuesday.

http://www.kidnapping.be/fourniret/index.html

27/05/08

SOS Madeleine McCann 27/05/08: four of the McCanns' friends refuse to return to Praia da Luz for the reconstruction.

SOS Maddie 27/05/08

Maddie : Quatre amis des McCann ont refusé la reconstitution de la nuit du crime

La PJ va maintenant discuter avec le Ministère Public pour savoir si celui-ci avance avec l'accusation ou si la reconstitution reste indispensable.

Quatre des amis qui avaient accompagné Gerry et Kate McCann pendant leurs vacances au Portugal ont refusé de retourner à Praia da Luz pour y participer à la reconstitution des événements liés à la disparition de Madeleine, une diligence prévue pour jeudi et vendredi prochains et que la Police Judiciaire (PJ) considérait "extrêmement importante" pour consolider l’enquête.

Maddie: Four of the McCanns' friends have refused the reconstruction of the night of the crime. The PJ are now going to discuss with the Public Ministry to find out if they will proceed with the prosecution or if the reconstruction is still necessary. Four friends who had accompanied Gerry and Kate McCann during thier holiday in Portugal have refused to return to Praia da Luz to participate in the reconstruction of the events linked to Madeleine's disappearance, an action planned for next Thursday or Friday and which the PJ would consdier, "extremely important," to consolidate the enquiry.

L’information, confirmée aujourd’hui par une note du cabinet du Procureur Générale de la République (PGR), avance encore que, faute de leur présence, la diligence serait pure et simplement annulée.

L’annonce du refus de coopération des quatre britanniques, et la conséquente annulation de la reconstitution, n’a pas surpris les enquêteurs car ils avaient déjà reçu, il y a plus d’une semaine, l’information de leurs collègues au Royaume-Uni de qu’au moins deux des "Tapas sept", le couple Jane Tanner et Russell O’Brien, n’allaient pas revenir.

The information, confirmed today by a note from the office of the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) further states that, without their presence, the action would purely and simply be cancelled. The announcement of the refusal to cooperate by the four British people, and the consequent cancellation of the reconstruction, has not surprised the investigators because they had already received, over a week ago, the information from their colleagues in the United Kingdom that at least two of the, "Tapas seven," the couple Jane Tanner and Russell O'Brien would not be going to return.

Vendredi passé, un haut responsable de la police britannique à Enderby, avait révélé que "Kate et Gerry McCann ont établie un accord avec leurs sept amis visant empêcher la réalisation de la reconstitution demande par les autorités portugaises," soulignant "qu’ils savent que cette reconstitution n’aura pas lieu si le groupe n’y est pas au complet."

Last Friday, a senior officer of the British police at Enderby, had revealed that, "Kate and Gerry have established an agreement with their seven friends to prevent the setting up of the reconstruction requested by the Portuguese authorities," stressing that, "they know that this reconstruction will not take place if the whole group is not there."

Selon le même officier, le couple McCann ne voulait pas "refuser directement et en public leur participation, sous peine de voir l’opinion publique au Royaume-Uni se retourner contre eux. "

"Si leur présence est exigé, ils iront, ils doivent y aller," avait dit Clarence Mitchell à propos de Kate et Gerry McCann soulignant que le couple avait toujours le statut d’arguidos, ce que n’était pas le cas des amis.

According to the same police officer, the McCann couple would not want to, "directly and publicly refuse their participation, at the risk of seeing public opinion in the United Kingdom turn against them."

"If their presence is necessary, they must go," Clarence Mitchell said about Kate and Gerry McCann, stressing that the couple still had arguido status, which was not the case with the friends.

Les sept amis - Jane Tanner et Russell O’Brien, Matthew et Rachael Oldfield, David et Fiona Payne, et la mère de celle-ci, Diane Webster – ont été interrogés comme témoins au Portugal et au Royaume-Uni affirmant vouloir aider l’enquête à la disparition de Madeleine, une position que la PJ avait déjà remise en cause par le passé et que le refus annoncé aujourd’hui semble confirmer.

The seven friends - Jane Tanner and Russell O'Brien, Matthew and Rachael Oldfield, David and Fiona Payne, and her mother Diane Webster - were questioned as witnesses in Portugal and in the United Kingdom, stating being willing to help the enquiry into Madeleine's disappearance, a position which the PJ had already questioned in the past and which their refusal announced today seems to confirm.

**********Transcript ends**********

On Friday May 2nd, Enfants Kidnappés reported that a reconstruction had already taken place last year in October, without the principal, "players," in the case.

http://www.kidnapping.be/maddie/maddie.html

"Une reconstitution a déjà été faite.

C'est dans un certain silence, voire une certaine indifférence qu'une première reconstitution a déjà été faite en octobre 2007. Une reconstitution, en langage criminel, signifie rassembler tous les éléments et intervenants d'une même affaire et les replacer dans les circonstances du crime ou du délit. Permettant d'avoir une vue complète sur les évènements. Ce qui n'est pas possible sur papier ou bien des éléments peuvent ne pas paraître aussi évident. Ainsi, une reconstitution permet de révéler bien des éléments. Or une première reconstitution a déjà été faite en octobre dernier avec tous les éléments et figurants présent à Praia de Luz le 03 mai entre 18h30 et 22h40. Seuls, les intervenants principaux n'étaient pas présents. C'était voulu! En effet, maintenant la PJ dispose d'une vue précise de ce qui s'est passé ou plutôt de "qui faisait quoi" et surtout "où et à quel moment" précis

A reconstruction has already been done.

It was in a certain silence, even a certain indifference that the first reconstruction was done in October 2007. A reconstruction, in criminal language, means bringing back together all the elements and players in the case and putting them back into the circumstances of the crime or offence, allowing a complete view of the events. This is not possible on paper, where many of the details would not be clear enough. Thus a reconstruction allows the details to be revealed more clearly. Now, a first reconstruction has already been done last October with all the elements and the people present in Praia da Luz on May 3rd between 18.30 and 22.40. Only the principal players were not present. It was valuable. In fact, now the PJ has a clear view of what happened or rather of, "who did what," and above all, "where and at what time," precisely."

"Praia da Luz one year in the past."

Perhaps the Public Prosecutor will be willing to allow the PJ to proceed with the case based on what was discovered during this previous reconstruction in October 2007. When the PJ state that the planned reconstruction with the principal, "players," Kate and Gerry and friends, would allow them to compare the points of view of witnesses and suspect, perhaps this is where the comparison would be made, between details gleaned from witnesses in the previous re-enactment, and that including the Tapas Nine.

So, what now? The McCanns are still official suspects in the enquiry and the PJ consider the reconstruction to be necessary. Four of those who were present on the evening of Madeleine's disappearance are unable to attend and participate in a reconstruction. You'd think the McCanns, who vowed to, "leave no stone unturned," in the search for their child, would be begging their friends to participate in anything which might have the remotest chance of helping to discover what had happened to that child. I don't think I'd be ready to accept, "Sorry, I can't make it," if this had been my child.

The McCanns were made arguidos and departed pretty sharpish on the next available plane, promising to returns when requested to do so by the PJ, the Tapas seven have stated that they would be willing to help in any way, yet none of them look as though they making any great shakes to get their asses over there to the Algarve. Public opinion turning against the McCanns? That seems to have happened quite some time ago and, in my opinion, the only way to restore some of that would be to book a flight to Portugal and to do their best to persuade their friends to accompany them. What could possibly be more important than participating in something which may help to resolve the disappearance of a very young child, however useless they might think it is?

Enfants Kidnappés 26/05/08 - Fourniret trial: oral arguments for the defence and verdict expected this week.

(Francis Nachbar)

Enfants Kidnappés reports that the defence for Michel Fourniret and Monique Oliver will sum up this week and a verdict can be expected on Wednesday or Thursday.

http://www.kidnapping.be/fourniret/index.html

Place aux plaidoiries de la défense.*

Après le sévère réquisitoire de l'avocat général, les avocats de la défense s'expriment aujourd'hui et demain. Ils devraient notamment tenter de minimiser la culpabilité de Monique Olivier, qui se présente comme une femme soumise par la peur à l'emprise de son mari.

"Un couple assassin", un "diable à deux faces", "d'une cruauté et d'une inhumanité que jamais notre pays n'avait imaginé connaître". La semaine dernière, l'avocat général a prononcé un réquisitoire très dur. Dans lequel il accable tant Michel Fourniret que Monique Olivier, qui lui a "délivré son permis de tuer". Me Nachbar réclame ainsi la prison à perpétuité tant pour l'un que pour l'autre.

Hearing the oral arguments for the defence.

After the severe arraignment of the Attorney General, the lawyers for the defence speak today and tomorrow, they must notably try to minimise the guilt of Monique Olivier, who presents as a woman made submissive by fear to the control of her husband.

"A killer couple, " a , "devil with two faces," "of a cruelty and inhumanity that our country never imagined to know." Last week, the Attorney General presented a very hard arraignment, in which he overwhelmed Michel Fourniret as much as Monique Olivier, who had, "given him premission to kill." Me Nachbar thus called for a whole life sentence for both of them.

Un portrait que les avocats de Monique Olivier vont tenter aujourd'hui de redessiner. Non, vont-ils dire, l'accusée n'est pas une criminelle, mais une autre victime de son mari, qui l'a terrorisée et soumise à son mode de vie assassin. Les avocats de Monique Olivier vont notamment s'appuyer sur les déclarations de Fourniret, qui minimise le rôle de sa femme. Et qui la dédouane de l'accusation la plus grave, celle d'avoir participé au meurtre de Jeanne-Marie Desramault, en 1989. Monique Olivier nie ainsi avoir étouffé la jeune fille en la bâillonnant, parce que Fourniret peinait à l'étrangler.

A portrait which Monique Olivier's lawyers today are going to attempt to redraw. No, they are going to say, the accused is not a criminal, but another victim of her husband, who terrorised her and subjected her to his killer way of life. Monique Olivier's lawyers are going to notably rely on Fourniret's statements, which minimise his wife's role and which clear her of the most serious charge, that of having participated in the murder of Jeanne-Marie Desramault, in 1989. Monique Olivier thus denies having suffocated the young girl by gagging her, because Fourniret was having trouble strangling her.

Rappel du 22mai:

La réclusion criminelle à perpétuité a été requise par l'accusation contre Michel Fourniret et son épouse Monique Olivier. Le couple est jugé depuis deux mois pour sept meurtres de jeunes filles entre 1987 et 2001. L'avocat général a demandé que la peine de Michel Fourniret s'effectue sans aucune possibilité d'aménagement. Il a requis une peine de sûreté incompressible de trente ans à l'encontre de son épouse. La défense doit plaider la semaine prochaine et le verdict de la cour d'assises des Ardennes est attendu mercredi ou jeudi. Les deux accusés ont reconnu les faits à l'audience.

Fourniret, 66 ans, encourt une peine de perpétuité « incompressible » en raison du dernier des sept homicides aggravés dont il est accusé, un assassinat précédé de viol sur mineur de moins de 15 ans en l'occurrence celui de Mananya Thumpong, 13 ans, tuée en 2001 dans les Ardennes. Cette période de sûreté de trente ans a également été requise contre Monique Olivier, 59 ans l'autre tête de ce « diable à deux faces » ; elle est accusée d'un meurtre et de complicité dans plusieurs autres crimes, tous antérieurs à 1994.

Reminder about May 22nd.

A whole life sentence was requested by the prosecution for Michel Fourniret and his wife Monique Olivier. The couple have been on trial for two months for seven murders of young girls between 1987 and 2001. The Attorney General requested that Michel Fourniret's sentence is carried out with no possibility of adjustment. he requested a custodial sentence of thirty years without parole for his wife. The defence must plead next week and the verdict of the Ardennes court of Assizes is expected on Wednesday or Thursday. The two accused have admitted the facts at the hearing. Fourniret, aged 66, faces a whole life sentence, "non-adjustable," for reason of the last of the seven aggravated murders of which he is accused, murder preceded by rape of a minor under 15 years of age, in this instance that of Mananya Thumpong, aged 13, killed in 2001 in the Ardennes. This sentence of thirty years was also requested for Monique Olivier, aged 59, the other head of this, "devil with two faces." ; she is accused of one murder and of complicity in several other crimes, all before 1994.

Permis de tuer

En début de semaine, la « complémentarité criminelle » des époux a été soulignée par des experts témoignant à la barre, un psychologue estimant qu'Olivier avait « délivré son permis de tuer » à son mari. Pendant les premières plaidoiries de la défense aujourd'hui, les avocats de Monique Olivier devraient rebondir sur des propos tenus à l'audience par Fourniret, qui a clairement dédouané son épouse de toute participation dans le meurtre de Jeanne-Marie Desramault en 1989. Alors qu'elle-même a nié lors du procès, Olivier est considéré par l'accusation comme coauteure du meurtre. Pendant que son mari peinait à étrangler la jeune étudiante qui se débattait, elle l'aurait étouffée en la baillonnant. Mardi, les avocats de Fourniret, jusque-là réduits au silence par son souhait de se défendre lui-même, devraient revenir sur le cas Thumpong qui fait encourir à leur client la peine incompressible. À l'audience le 29 avril, l'accusé a reconnu l'enlèvement et le meurtre mais a nié la circonstance aggravante du viol.

Le verdict est attendu mercredi après des délibérations dans une caserne de CRS à Charleville.

Permission to kill. At the start of the week, the, "criminal complementarity," of the couple was stressed by the expert witnesses at the bar, a psychologist suggesting that Olivier had, "given her permission to kill," to her husband. Today, during the first oral arguments of the defence, Monique Olivier's lawyers will have to pick up again on Fourniret's words to the hearing, which apparently clear his wife of all aprticipation in the murder of Jeanne-Marie Desramault in 1989. While she herself has denied during the trial, Olivier is considered by the prosecution as co-perpetrator of the murder. While her husband was having trouble strangling the young student who was struggling, she would have suffocated her by gagging her. On Tuesday, Fourniret's lawyers, hitherto reduced to slience by his wish to defend himself, must go back to the Thumpong case, which incurs the sentence without parole for their client. At the hearing on April 29th, the accused admitted the abduction and murder but denied the aggravating circumstances of rape.

The verdict is expected on Wednesday after deliberation in the CRS barracks in Charleville.