Advances in forensics ‘may help catch killer’
A key figure in the French investigation team confirmed yesterday that new forensic tests will be carried out on samples taken from certain exhibits retrieved from the murder scene.
French police officer Eric Battesti, the home affairs attache at the French embassy in London, who is liaising between the French team and gardaí, said samples for the tests will be taken from “more relevant” exhibits.
But he said the tests are just part of a broad investigation which will also focus on certain details contained in key witness statements taken by gardaí involved in the original murder inquiry 15 years ago.
“We need more intelligence, more clues to build a very strong file and present the file before the criminal courts,” Mr Battesti said.
“We are on a good track, and we are very optimistic that at the end of the day we will reach a good point.”
He was speaking after the French investigation team, which arrived in Ireland on Monday to assist investigating French magistrate Judge Patrick Gachon’s probe into Ms du Plantier’s death, was briefed on the case by Chief Superintendent Tom Hayes at Bandon Garda Station.
Mr Battesti spoke to the media, including reporters from France 2 and TV 24, two of France’s biggest TV stations, outside Bandon Garda station afterwards.
He said the police officers will begin interviewing the first of 27 witnesses this morning. It is understood that the team is considering offers from three other witnesses to meet them under certain circumstances.
“We will be cross-checking statements, and asking them to specify some points where contradictions are evident,” Mr Battesti said.
“We need more details to shed light and to understand the facts.”
The team’s two forensic scientists are expected to travel to Dublin on Sunday to example a number of exhibits and take samples from the more relevant exhibits.
He said the team is hopeful that advances in forensic science since Ms du Plantier’s death will yield new evidence.
In the afternoon, the team travelled to Ms du Plantier’s holiday home in Toormore, outside Schull in West Cork, to examine the scene. Mr Battesti said the team will spend up to two weeks in Ireland but the entire investigation will take several months.
Once the team’s investigation is complete, it will prepare a file for Judge Gachon, who will issue a report to a college of three judges drawn from France’s Court d’Appeal who will then decide if a suspect should face criminal charges. A trial can take place in France with or without the suspect being present.
Despite an intensive Garda investigation, no one has ever been charged with the murder of Ms du Plantier.
English journalist Ian Bailey, 54, who has always denied any involvement in Ms du Plantier’s death, is currently taking an appeal to the Supreme Court against a decision by the High Court to extradite him to France for questioning by Judge Gachon.
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