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French 'serial killer' on trial | French 'serial killer' on trial |
(5 days later) | |
The trial has opened in France of a man accused of being among the country's worst serial killers in decades. | The trial has opened in France of a man accused of being among the country's worst serial killers in decades. |
Michel Fourniret, 65, is charged with murdering seven girls and women in France and Belgium. He is also charged with raping some of them. | Michel Fourniret, 65, is charged with murdering seven girls and women in France and Belgium. He is also charged with raping some of them. |
His wife, accused of helping lure women into a car, is separately charged with complicity in murder and kidnapping. | His wife, accused of helping lure women into a car, is separately charged with complicity in murder and kidnapping. |
Mr Fourniret, dubbed the "Ogre of the Ardennes", is accused of carrying out the murders between 1987 and 2001. | Mr Fourniret, dubbed the "Ogre of the Ardennes", is accused of carrying out the murders between 1987 and 2001. |
The charges against Mr Fourniret relate to six murders in France and one in Belgium. His alleged victims ranged in age between 12 and 22 years. | The charges against Mr Fourniret relate to six murders in France and one in Belgium. His alleged victims ranged in age between 12 and 22 years. |
'Confessions' | 'Confessions' |
Mr Fourniret appeared in court in the northern French town of Charleville-Mezieres alongside his wife, Monique Olivier. | Mr Fourniret appeared in court in the northern French town of Charleville-Mezieres alongside his wife, Monique Olivier. |
When the judge asked him to identify himself, he held up a piece of paper on which was written: "My lips are sealed if there is no closed-door hearing." | When the judge asked him to identify himself, he held up a piece of paper on which was written: "My lips are sealed if there is no closed-door hearing." |
The judge did not appear to respond. | The judge did not appear to respond. |
Mr Fourniret also passed to the judge a rolled-up document tied with a red ribbon, which his lawyer said was a message to the victims' families. The judge said he would read it in due course. | Mr Fourniret also passed to the judge a rolled-up document tied with a red ribbon, which his lawyer said was a message to the victims' families. The judge said he would read it in due course. |
MURDER VICTIMS Isabelle Laville: Kidnapped in 1987 in Auxerre, central France, aged 17, and raped. Body found in 2000Fabienne Leroy: Kidnapped and raped in Chalons-en-Champagne, eastern France, in 1988 aged 20. Found next dayJeanne-Marie Desramault: Kidnapped in Charleville-Mezieres in 1989, aged 22. Body found in 2004 at Fourniret's ex property nearbyElisabeth Brichet: Abducted in Namur, Belgium, in 1989, aged 12. Found in 2004 at Fourniret's ex-propertyNatacha Danais: Kidnapped in 1990 near Nantes, western France, aged 13. Found three days later on nearby beachCeline Saison: Kidnapped in Charleville-Mezieres in 2000, aged 18, and raped. Body found three months later in BelgiumMananya Thumphong: Abducted in 2001 in Sedan, north-east France, aged 13, and raped. Found in Belgium in 2002 Trial under media glare | MURDER VICTIMS Isabelle Laville: Kidnapped in 1987 in Auxerre, central France, aged 17, and raped. Body found in 2000Fabienne Leroy: Kidnapped and raped in Chalons-en-Champagne, eastern France, in 1988 aged 20. Found next dayJeanne-Marie Desramault: Kidnapped in Charleville-Mezieres in 1989, aged 22. Body found in 2004 at Fourniret's ex property nearbyElisabeth Brichet: Abducted in Namur, Belgium, in 1989, aged 12. Found in 2004 at Fourniret's ex-propertyNatacha Danais: Kidnapped in 1990 near Nantes, western France, aged 13. Found three days later on nearby beachCeline Saison: Kidnapped in Charleville-Mezieres in 2000, aged 18, and raped. Body found three months later in BelgiumMananya Thumphong: Abducted in 2001 in Sedan, north-east France, aged 13, and raped. Found in Belgium in 2002 Trial under media glare |
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. |
The Frenchman 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. | The Frenchman 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. |
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. |
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. | Two of the bodies were found on a country estate in northern France which he shared with his wife. |
Police believe Mr Fourniret may have killed several other women. | Police believe Mr Fourniret may have killed several other women. |
'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. |
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, although he never undertook his side of the bargain. | 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, although he never undertook his side of the bargain. |
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 person to get into his car. | He would spot a potential victim while driving and stop to ask for directions, then persuade the person to get into his car. |
Ms Olivier's presence in the vehicle was designed to help reassure the future victim, according to the prosecution. | Ms Olivier's presence in the vehicle was designed to help reassure 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. |
The cases of two further alleged victims will not feature at this trial and are the subject of a separate legal process. | The cases of two further alleged 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. |