France: Children's evidence delayed in paedophile ring trial

Video evidence from some of the alleged 45 child victims of a French paedophile ring was delayed by a judge today.

The testimony was filmed by police officers, and the children were not expected to appear in court in Angers, 165 miles south-west of Paris.

The taped accounts of three alleged victims were due to be played at today’s hearing.

But defence lawyers argued that the court had excerpted portions of the testimony, and demanded that it be shown in full.

“In my soul and conscience, I chose to show everything that appeared to me necessary to demonstrate the truth,” responded presiding judge Eric Marechal. He postponed a decision on the defence request.

In all, 66 people are accused of involvement in a paedophile network on a council estate.

Investigators say 45 children – aged six months to 14 years – were abused by their parents or their acquaintances from 1999 to 2002, in some cases in exchange for small amounts of money, food, cigarettes or alcohol.

Last week, police officers who worked the case said the children’s ordeals were so horrific that they asked their superiors to be taken off investigations involving minors.

If convicted, defendants face prison sentences ranging from three years to life. The trial began on March 3 and is expected to end in July, but showing all the taped accounts would require a three-week extension of the proceedings.