Past Imperfect

The main purpose of the first hearing was for overall presentation of the case: the main prosecution foundations in support, and general aims — followed by defence rebuttal. Corbeix started with the background to the 1963 investigation and trial, though only the key points — the main details would be presented by Fornier at the third instruction. Then he came quickly onto the link between the two cases: Eyran Capel and the final PLR sessions. Corbeix was careful not to dwell, he wanted to get swiftly to the coin — the main tangible evidence — without attracting objections and interruptions from Thibault over PLR. Thibault raised his eyebrows to the ceiling at its mention, half smiled and leant over to whisper something to Madeleine — but no objection came.

Still, Corbeix was keen to push PLR as far out of reach as possible. 'Much evidence will be presented about the authenticity of PLR work. Not just with this case with Eyran Capel and Christian Rosselot — but hundreds of authenticated cases stretching back through the years. Countless eminent psychiatrists and psychologists all bearing testament to its authenticity. Hours of tapes and reams of transcripts available. Marinella Calvan, the main psychologist who conducted the sessions, one of the world’s leading PLR experts, will also appear before us — as will the initial psychiatrist who recommended PLR sessions for Eyran Capel. And finally a French notary who witnessed one of the closing sessions.' Corbeix rested one hand firmly on his trial folder. 'But despite all of that, the prosecution case will not, I repeat not, be fought on the basis of such evidence. All of that will be purely texture and background to the main evidence: a coin discovered by a garage worker in the boot of Alain Duclos' car.'

'PLR is therefore only a means to an end — but not the end itself. And the coin is significant because it is not just any coin: it is a relatively rare Italian silver lire given to Christian Rosselot by his grandfather, who brought it in turn from Italy. Christian Rosselot left his house that fateful day with the coin in his pocket, and it was subsequently found in the boot of Monsieur Duclos' car — albeit only coming to light all these years later.'

Corbeix held out a hand towards Thibault. 'I'm sure, your justice, that much will be made in argument against PLR by the defence, purely because of its unusual and speculative nature — especially in trial evidence. But I can only emphasize again that in this case it is purely for texture and background. However much the defence tries to discredit or throw doubt on PLR — it does not escape the simple, irrevocable fact that the coin was there. A physical, not a mythical discovery. And the only tangible explanation for it being there is that the boy — Christian Rosselot — was in the boot of Alain Duclos' car on the day of his murder.' Corbeix nodded abruptly to Barielle, then to Thibault, and sat down.

Thibault spent the first ten minutes mainly with character references for his client — almost a repeat of his bail pleas. How it was unthinkable that anyone of Duclos' stature and contribution to the community at large could commit such a crime. A ludicrous travesty of justice that charges should have even been brought to bare. Thibault jumped deftly to the background of PLR and psychic evidence.

'Nothing else demonstrates stronger just how ludicrous. Shows fully the pathetic desperation of the prosecution's case.' But to Corbeix' relief and surprise, Thibault spent little time on the subject. 'These elements are so obviously questionable, as to hardly be worth my time in trying to discredit them.' As if already half assuming that Barielle would also consider them obvious nonsense. Or perhaps saving his big guns for the hearing with Marinella Calvan, thought Corbeix.

Thibault emphasized the sensitivity of his client's political position and the rather suspicious and convenient timing of all this now arising hot on the heels of a controversial bio-technology ruling. 'Every politician has enemies — but when industry at large has been hit to the tune of eight billion dollars — the incentive is suddenly there to crush those enemies. So why this charge has suddenly materialized against my client should be very clear. Emerging out of the blue after over thirty years. But the how is far more interesting. How a rag-tag collection of coincidences and falsehoods have been strung together by the prosecution, with a few mystics thrown in for good measure — in support of this ridiculous political witch hunt.' Thibault stared resolutely at Barielle. 'Certainly, your justice, in all my years I have not seen a more blatant case of fabrication of evidence and bias in support of a prosecution — and I will see it as my pleasure to expose this for what it is: a case totally without substance or merit.' Thibault cast his eyes down for a second, drawing a tired breath. 'Unfortunately for my client, regardless of the outcome, politics being what it is — his career will probably be over. His enemies will score their victory in any case. Which I think has been their intention all along — knowing full well that such tenuous evidence would be thrown out in short order. But let us hope at least that justice will be seen to be done on one front. Thank you.'

Thibault's only bout of band standing. Bold claims, Corbeix thought. Bias? But overall tame by Thibault's normal standards. There was obviously much worse to come.

As Thibault sat down, Barielle smiled. 'Yes, well. I think your aims in this case Monsieur Thibault have already been made clear to anyone reading the newspapers. In future, I would ask you to address your aims to me first before telling the world — not the other way around.'

Thibault was red-faced, but just nodded with a slight shrug. Couldn't quite wrap his tongue around an apology.

Corbeix smiled in turn. Perhaps Barielle wouldn't be such a walkover.

The first part of the second instruction hearing was taken up with Serge Roudele: confirmation of his name, the dates he worked in the Limoges garage, and then the reading of his statement about the coin.

Duclos was present because later he would be asked to testify. He looked uneasy as he listened to Roudele's account. And so he should, thought Corbeix: the main physical evidence that could convict him. Duclos would have already known about the coin from the trial papers, but not all the details. Corbeix felt a twinge of pleasure at Duclos' discomfort. Duclos probably thinking of the many times he'd opened the boot in those seven months without seeing the coin. Or wondering why, oh why couldn't he have had a flat tyre?

Thibault waited for Barielle to finish his questioning, and then requested the right to confront; but with only three questions. Barielle nodded, and posed them: 'Did you steal the coin in question?'

'Well, yes. I took it, at least.'

'Would you consider this an act of theft?'

'Yes… I suppose I would.' Slight fluster. Uncomfortable.

'And was there a reward offered for coming forward with information about the coin?'

'Yes, there was.' Roudele was defensive. 'But not excessive in comparison to its normal value.'

Thibault made no concluding remarks and Roudele was dismissed. But the points were in the file, and Corbeix was sure that Thibault would make much of them later: try and discredit Roudele. Corbeix summarized with the statements from the coin shop owner, reading out key segments of his statements — then passed it to Barielle and the greffier to note.

Duclos' testimony predictably stuck to his original account given in 1963: travelling through Taragnon, calling in at a restaurant, a quick stop-off at a garage, then on to Juan-le-Pins.

When Duclos had finished, Barielle asked: 'Did you at any time meet a young boy travelling through Taragnon?'

'No, I didn't.'

'Did you at any time have a young boy in your car. Either in the passenger seat or in the boot?'

'No.'

'How long did you spend in the restaurant in total?'

'An hour, an hour and a quarter…'

Barielle continued with a series of straightforward, mechanical questions, eleven in all, making short notes between each one. He would ask the same questions from a dozen more angles before the instruction was over. Each time sharpening the angle or confronting with conflicting testimony from witnesses. The main skill of an effective examining magistrate digging for the truth. But Corbeix could hardly imagine Barielle commenting that according to the voice on tape of a boy long since dead, a different account had been proposed: 'What do you say to that, Monsieur Duclos?'

A reminder to Corbeix, listening to Duclos' account, that his claim at the last instruction of PLR just providing background and texture, was in part inaccurate: the case hinged on the physical evidence of the coin, but Eyran Capel's PLR transcripts provided the complete picture