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| Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder: Court convicts Ian Bailey | Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder: Court convicts Ian Bailey |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A former journalist has been convicted of the murder of a French film producer in Ireland more than 20 years ago. | A former journalist has been convicted of the murder of a French film producer in Ireland more than 20 years ago. |
| A court in Paris convicted Ian Bailey, who is originally from Manchester, in absentia for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. | A court in Paris convicted Ian Bailey, who is originally from Manchester, in absentia for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. |
| The 62-year-old, with an address at the Prairie, Toormore, County Cork, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. | The 62-year-old, with an address at the Prairie, Toormore, County Cork, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. |
| His solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said the decision was a "grotesque miscarriage of justice". | His solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said the decision was a "grotesque miscarriage of justice". |
| The trial lasted three days. Irish authorities have twice refused to extradite Bailey. | |
| He has repeatedly denied any involvement in the killing, and his lawyers dismissed the proceedings in France as a "show trial". | He has repeatedly denied any involvement in the killing, and his lawyers dismissed the proceedings in France as a "show trial". |
| Ms Toscan du Plantier was assaulted near a holiday home her husband had bought near Schull in west County Cork more than 22 years ago. | Ms Toscan du Plantier was assaulted near a holiday home her husband had bought near Schull in west County Cork more than 22 years ago. |
| Her badly beaten body was discovered by neighbours in a laneway near the house on 23 December 1996. | Her badly beaten body was discovered by neighbours in a laneway near the house on 23 December 1996. |
| During the trial, judges were shown photographs of the blood-stained rock and concrete block which were found close to the victim's body. | During the trial, judges were shown photographs of the blood-stained rock and concrete block which were found close to the victim's body. |
| The court was also told that her house revealed no signs of the presence of an intruder. It is believed she opened the door to her killer. | The court was also told that her house revealed no signs of the presence of an intruder. It is believed she opened the door to her killer. |
| There was no jury in the trial and the three judges took about five hours to reach a verdict. | There was no jury in the trial and the three judges took about five hours to reach a verdict. |
| Speaking to Irish national broadcaster RTÉ, Mr Buttimer, Bailey's defence solicitor, said it was not a criminal trial or carried out in the way it would be in the Republic of Ireland. | Speaking to Irish national broadcaster RTÉ, Mr Buttimer, Bailey's defence solicitor, said it was not a criminal trial or carried out in the way it would be in the Republic of Ireland. |
| He claimed it was no more than "a rubber-stamping exercise" of "the pre-determined guilt" of Mr Bailey "as far as the French criminal justice system is concerned". | He claimed it was no more than "a rubber-stamping exercise" of "the pre-determined guilt" of Mr Bailey "as far as the French criminal justice system is concerned". |
| Nobody has ever been charged in Ireland in connection with Ms Toscan du Plantier's death. | |
| Bailey, who lived three kilometres from her, was twice arrested for questioning by gardaí (Irish police) but released without charge. | |
| As he was not present in court for the French proceedings, Bailey cannot appeal the verdict. | |
| However, under French law, anyone found guilty of a crime in absentia is entitled to a second trial in France where they will be present in court and represented by defence lawyers. | However, under French law, anyone found guilty of a crime in absentia is entitled to a second trial in France where they will be present in court and represented by defence lawyers. |
| French authorities will now request his extradition for a third time. | French authorities will now request his extradition for a third time. |