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French 'serial killer' on trial | French 'serial killer' on trial |
(20 minutes later) | |
A man accused of being one of France's worst serial killers in decades is to go on trial, accused of murdering seven young women in France and Belgium. | |
Alain Fourniret is also facing rape charges at his trial in the northern French town of Charleville-Mezieres. | Alain Fourniret is also facing rape charges at his trial in the northern French town of Charleville-Mezieres. |
His wife is separately charged with complicity in murder and kidnapping. | His wife is separately charged with complicity in murder and kidnapping. |
Mr Fourniret, 65, has been dubbed by the media the "Ogre of the Ardennes". He is accused of carrying out the murders between 1987 and 2003. | Mr Fourniret, 65, has been dubbed by the media the "Ogre of the Ardennes". He is accused of carrying out the murders between 1987 and 2003. |
The charges against Mr Fourniret relate to the murder of six women in France and one in Belgium. They ranged in age between 12 and 22 years. | The charges against Mr Fourniret relate to the murder of six women in France and one in Belgium. They ranged in age between 12 and 22 years. |
'Confessions' | 'Confessions' |
Mr Fourniret moved to Belgium in the 1980s, after serving a jail sentence for voyeurism and assault. | Mr Fourniret moved to Belgium in the 1980s, after serving a jail sentence for voyeurism and assault. |
But he often crossed back into his native France to commit offences, police say. | But he often crossed back into his native France to commit offences, police say. |
He was arrested in Belgium in 2003 after an attempt to kidnap a 13-year-old girl. Now aged 17, she will be giving evidence at the trial, but out of public view. | He was arrested in Belgium in 2003 after an attempt to kidnap a 13-year-old girl. Now aged 17, she will be giving evidence at the trial, but out of public view. |
Police say Mr Fourniret confessed to the murders to Belgian investigators in 2004. | Police say Mr Fourniret confessed to the murders to Belgian investigators in 2004. |
Mr Fourniret's extradition to France followed in early 2006. | Mr Fourniret's extradition to France followed in early 2006. |
He led police to the remains of one of his alleged victims in 2006 - 17-year-old Isabelle Laville, who was raped and murdered in 1987. Her body was dumped in a well. | He led police to the remains of one of his alleged victims in 2006 - 17-year-old Isabelle Laville, who was raped and murdered in 1987. Her body was dumped in a well. |
Two of the bodies were found on a country estate in northern France which he shared with his wife, Monique Olivier. | Two of the bodies were found on a country estate in northern France which he shared with his wife, Monique Olivier. |
Police believe Mr Fourniret may have killed several other women, and that he was obsessed with virgins. | Police believe Mr Fourniret may have killed several other women, and that he was obsessed with virgins. |
'Stalking' | 'Stalking' |
Ms Olivier became his wife after getting to know him while working as a volunteer prison visitor. | Ms Olivier became his wife after getting to know him while working as a volunteer prison visitor. |
The case is expected to last two months | The case is expected to last two months |
According to letters seized by investigators, the two agreed a pact while he was in prison. He undertook to kill her first husband if she helped him to kidnap young girls. | According to letters seized by investigators, the two agreed a pact while he was in prison. He undertook to kill her first husband if she helped him to kidnap young girls. |
Investigators say the method used by the couple was nearly always the same. | Investigators say the method used by the couple was nearly always the same. |
He would spot a potential victim while driving and stop to ask for directions, then persuade the girl to get into his car. | He would spot a potential victim while driving and stop to ask for directions, then persuade the girl to get into his car. |
Ms Olivier's presence in the vehicle was designed to help re-assure the future victim, according to the prosecution. | Ms Olivier's presence in the vehicle was designed to help re-assure the future victim, according to the prosecution. |
She was handed over to the French authorities in 2005 and charged after confessing to having lured women to her home between 1992 and 1997. | She was handed over to the French authorities in 2005 and charged after confessing to having lured women to her home between 1992 and 1997. |
Ms Olivier, 59, is alleged to have done so in the knowledge that her husband would kill them. | Ms Olivier, 59, is alleged to have done so in the knowledge that her husband would kill them. |
Testimony | Testimony |
The cases of two further victims will not feature at this trial and are the subject of a separate legal process. | The cases of two further victims will not feature at this trial and are the subject of a separate legal process. |
Mr Fourniret is suspected of kidnapping, raping and murdering British teaching assistant Joanna Parrish, 20, in 1990 while she was working in the French town of Auxerre. | Mr Fourniret is suspected of kidnapping, raping and murdering British teaching assistant Joanna Parrish, 20, in 1990 while she was working in the French town of Auxerre. |
He is also being investigated over the kidnap, murder and attempted rape of Marie-Angele Domece, a 19-year-old disabled woman from France. | He is also being investigated over the kidnap, murder and attempted rape of Marie-Angele Domece, a 19-year-old disabled woman from France. |
He denies involvement in either woman's death. | He denies involvement in either woman's death. |
Mr Fourniret's trial is expected to hear testimony from another of his victims, Dahina Le Guennan. | Mr Fourniret's trial is expected to hear testimony from another of his victims, Dahina Le Guennan. |
He served time for assaulting Ms Le Guennan in the 1980s when she was 19. | He served time for assaulting Ms Le Guennan in the 1980s when she was 19. |
"He does not frighten me anymore," she said in an interview with French TV channel TF1 on Monday. "I want to show him that I have got my life together and that he did not break me." | "He does not frighten me anymore," she said in an interview with French TV channel TF1 on Monday. "I want to show him that I have got my life together and that he did not break me." |
About 30 relatives of those killed will be present at the trial, which is expected to last two months. | About 30 relatives of those killed will be present at the trial, which is expected to last two months. |