Saturday 31 May 2008

Abdallah Aït Oud: as Fourniret goes to prison for life, the trial of Abdallah Aït Oud gets underway in Belgium.

(Nathalie and Stacy)

During the night of 9th/10th June 2006, Stacy Lemmens, aged 7, and Nathalie Mahy, aged 10, were abducted in Liège, Belgium, at the end of a jumble sale held in a popular area of Liège. Their bodies were found 18 days later in a drainage channel bordering a railway line. On May 26th, Abdallah Aït Oud went on trial at the assizes court in Liège for their abduction and murder.

The first session of the trial. on May 26th, was presided over by
Stéphane Goux, who directed the trial of Marc Dutroux in 2004. The trial began with the constitution of the jury from the 100 potential jurors who had been called. The families of the victims were present on the opening day.
The afternoon was taken up with an opening address from the presiding judge, Pascale Goossens, and from the investigators.
Abdallah Aït Oud denies all charges.

May 27th: on the second day of the trial, the morning was devoted to the witness statements of four police officers, who had been part of the investigating team. On a giant screen, the police showed images of the torso of the accused on the day of his arrest, with scratches and scrapes along his back and arms, thought to be from the thicket through which he had dragged the bodies to the drainage channel by the railway line. The accused explained that the day before the jumble sale he had wanted to get to his mate's apartment via the back way, and had had to go through an area of rough ground. The investigators demonstrated the inconsistency of this statement by showing slides of the area through which
Abdallah Aït Oud would have passed on the way to his mate's apartment: an abandoned garden, the beginning of a path, a trunk, half on its side for climbing a first wall, a second low wall, and inner court yard, a side passageway with a door which was perhaps open, and finally the door to his friend's place.

The photographs show an area where the nettles and brambles are no taller than 30cm (c. 12") and not tall enough to injure below the waist.

Alain Remue, head of the missing person's organisation, gave details of the search for the two girls
. He said that on the evening of June 19th, 10 days after the girls disappeared, there had been a terrific storm, which may have carried the bodies to the remote location in which they were found.

May 30th:

Cinquième jours de procès30 mai 2008

Stacy et Nathalie sont mortes par étranglement.

La matinée du cinquième jour du procès d'Abdallah Ait Oud a été consacrée vendredi aux auditions des médecins légistes devant la cour d'assises de Liège. Les expertises ont démontré que Stacy Lemmens et Nathalie Mahy sont mortes étranglées. Il a également pu être démontré que Nathalie Mahy a été violée avant d'être tuée.

Fifth day of the trial. Stacy and Natalie were strangled to death. The morning of the fifth day of Abdallah Ait Oud's trial on Friday, was devoted to evidence from the medical examiners before the Liège court of assizes. The experts demonstrated that Stacy and Nathalie were strangled to death. It was also demonstrated that Nathalie Mahy was raped before being killed.

Lors de cette journée consacrée aux expertises médico-légales, les parents des victimes n'ont pas souhaité assister à l'audience et subir le contenu des rapports des experts. Seule Catherine Dizier, la mère de Nathalie Mahy, était présente dans la salle d'audience pour écouter les médecins. Les jurés ont pu entendre en prélude aux dépositions des différents experts légistes le témoignage d'un homme de la Protection civile qui était occupé dans les recherches des victimes le jour de la découverte des corps de Stacy et Nathalie. C'est cet homme qui a découvert le premier corps le 28 juin 2006. Les experts ont également livré une approximation concernant la date du décès des deux victimes, en tenant comptes des éléments relevés lors de la découverte des corps. Pour les deux fillettes, les médecins estiment avec un maximum de probabilités que les décès remontent entre 15 jours et trois semaines au moment de la découverte. Il est donc estimé que les décès de Stacy et Nathalie sont survenus entre le 7 et le 13 juin 2006.

During that day, devoted to the medico-legal experts, the victims' parents did not wish to be present at the hearing and suffer the contents of the experts' reports. Only Catherine Dizier, Nathalie Mahy's mother, was present in the courtroom to listen to the doctors. As a prelude to the statements of the different legal experts, the jurors were able to hear the witness statement of a man from Civil Protection who was involved in the search on the day of the discovery of the bodies of Stacy and Nathalie. It was this man who discovered the first body on June 28th 2006. The experts also gave an approximation of the date of death of the two victims, taking into account the information revealed during the discovery of the bodies. For the two little girls, the doctors estimated that the deaths most probably occurred between two and three weeks before their discovery. It was therefore estimated that the deaths of Stacy and Nathalie occurred between June 7th and June 13th 2006.


la compagne de l'accusé a toujours confiance en lui.

A la barre, Christelle raconte les dernières heure passées en compagnie de son fiancé le jour de la braderie puis son absence inexpliquée. Au moment de la disparition des fillettes, elle sert au café "Les Armuriers". C'est pourquoi elle sera interrogée dans le cadre de l'enquête. C'est à cette occasion qu'elle apprend les antécédents judiciaires d'Abdallah Aït Oud. Et pourtant, le dimanche, quand elle sonne chez lui pour l'avertir de ce que la police le recherche, elle se garde de lui en donner les raisons. Je venais d'apprendre son passé dit-elle. S'agissant de petites filles, j'avais peur qu'il parte.

The partner of the accused still trusts him. At the bar, Christelle recounts the last hours spent in the company of her fiancé on the day of the jumble sale then his unexplained absence. At the time of the disappearance of the two little girls, she was serving in the café, "Les Armuriers." That is why she would be questioned in the context of the enquiry. It is on this occasion that she learns about Abdallah Aït Oud's previous criminal record. And yet, on the Sunday when she rings his house to warn him that the police are looking for him, she is careful about giving him the reasons for it. I had just learned about his past, she says. As it was about little girls, I was afraid that he would leave.

Depuis lors, elle connaît son histoire. Elle a pardonné. Et sur les faits qui lui sont aujourd'hui reprochés, elle le veut innocent. Cela ne fait aucun doute : cette jeune femme de 22 ans est toujours amoureuse de l'accusé. La teneur des courriers qu'elle lui envoie en prison en témoigne. Mais les sentiments qu'elle porte encore à celui qui est accusé de viol et d'assassinat de deux petites filles, l'amour qu'elle peut encore ressentir ne sont pas de nature à éclairer le dossier et participer à la manifestation de la vérité.

Since then, she has known his history. She forgave. And on the facts with which he is now charged, she wants him innocent. There is no doubt: this young woman aged 22 is still in love with the accused. The tenor of the letters she sends to him in prison bear witness to it. But the feelings she still carries for the one who is accused of rape and murder of two little girls, the love she can still feel, are not likely to shed light on the case and to involve the expression of the truth.

Une affaire de tortues :

Avant elle, la cour avait entendu une série de témoins. Et de ces auditions, les conclusions des avocats des familles sont sans appel : l'accusé est un fieffé menteur.

Plusieurs groupes de jeunes gens, le vendredi du drame, ont été abordés en divers endroits par un individu au crâne rasé, qui a proposé d'aller dans des parcs ou sur des pelouses à la recherche de tortues de jardin pour les revendre. Les uns se sont moqués ; d'autres se sont méfiés ; d'autres encore, ont suivi le personnage. Il ne s'est rien passé mais l'accusation pense tenir le mode opératoire de l'approche du prédateur, il nie mais les adolescents l'identifient, parfois à 100%. Mais un grand gamin de 14 ans, affirme, je l'ai accompagné sans crainte parce que des gens comme lui, j'en croise tous les jours.

A case of tortoises.

Before her, the court had heard a series of witnesses. And from those speeches, the conclusions of the families' lawyers are irrevocable: the accused is an utter liar.

On the Friday of the tragedy, several groups of young people had been approached in various places by an individual with a shaved head, who suggested going into the parks or onto the lawns to hunt for garden tortoises to sell. Some laughed; others were wary; others followed the person. Nothing happened, but the prosecution maintains it is the modus operandus of the predator's approach, he denies but the teenagers identify him, sometimes 100%. But a tall kid aged 14, states, I went with him without fear because people like him, I come across every day.

L'affaire des tortues, est-elle l'élément qui va confondre le prévenu ? Peut-être. Le conseil de l'un des parents, arbore d'ailleurs une cravate avec quelques reptiles à carapace comme motifs. Mais parmi les témoins, les uns décrivent un homme en état d'ébriété, bizarre, au regard jaune ; les autres, un type normal ; avec un T-shirt blanc, selon une fille ; un T-shirt noir, selon son amie. Allez donc savoir ….

The case of the tortoises, is it the detail which is going to unmask the accused? Perhaps. The advice of one of the parents, sporting a tie with motifs of several shelled reptiles. But amongst the witnesses, some describe a man in an enebriated state, odd, looking yellow; others, a normal type; with a white T shirt, according to one girl; a black T shirt, according to her friend. Go figure.....

Une lettre qui accuse "R.V".

Cette lettre, signée "R.A" est parvenue au palais de Justice à l'attention de l'avocat. Annexée à une photo de l'accusé, la lettre, rédigée en 6 points, stipule que celui-ci est innocent. La lettre signale que seule la petite Nathalie connaissait son agresseur et qu'il fallait donc chercher dans son entourage (famille et amis). L'auteur signale que les initiales de l'auteur sont "R.V." et que celui-ci était âgé entre 25 et 30 ans au moment des faits. 'auteur stipule aussi que les radiesthésistes permettent de retrouver certaines choses "n'en déplaisent à leurs détracteurs". Le courrier a été versé au dossier. (Belga/RTBF/Levif/7sur7)

A letter that accuses, "R.V."

This letter, signed, "R.A." turned up at the law court for the attention of the attorney. Attached to a photo of the accused, the letter, written out in 6 points, stipulates that this one is innocent. The letter reports that only little Nathalie knew her attacker and it was, therefore, necessary to look at those surrounding her (family and friends). the writer reports that the perpetrator's initials are "R.V." and that this one was aged between 25 and 30 years at the time of the deeds. The writer also reports that dowsers could find certain things, "not unpleasing to their detractors." The letter has been filed
. (Belga/RTBF/Levif/7sur7)

http://www.kidnapping.be/belgique/index.html

30/05/08

Enfants Kidnappes 30/05/08 - abduction, murder child neglect and concealment of a corpse

Towards and indictment: Enfants Kidnappés article on the decision of the Court of Appeal not to allow the Portuguese police access to the mobile phone records of Gerry McCann.

Rapt, homicide, négligence envers enfant et occultation de cadavre...

Les parents McCann seraient sous le coup d'une procédure pour rapt, homicide, négligence et occultation de cadavre. C'est ce qui ressort d'une décision du Tribunal de la Relation d'Evora, publié par le Times. Cette décision, signée le 29 avril dernier, révèle aussi que le Ministère Public a voulu accéder aux messages (sms) échangés entre une dizaine de portables lors de la disparition de Madeleine. Deux de ces portables appartiendraient au couple McCann. Les autres seraient ceux des 7 amis du tapas. Une liste des appels effectués le 03 mai entre 20h00 et le lendemain 12h00 auraient été établies ainsi que la localisation des appels.

Abduction, murder, child neglect and concealment of a corpse.

The McCann parents would be under an action for abduction, murder, neglect and concealment of a corpse. This is what emerges from a decision of the Appeal Court of Evora, published by the Times. That decision, signed on April 29th, also reveals that the Public Ministry wanted to have access to messages (SMS) exchanged between a dozen mobiles at the time of Madeleine's disappearance. Two of these mobiles belong to the McCann couple. The others would be those of the seven tapas friends. A list of calls made on May 3rd between 8pm and the next day at 12 noon would have been established as well as the location of the calls.


Un malentendu.

Selon la presse, la demande pour obtenir cette liste ainsi que la copie des messages échangés auraient été refusés par le juge pour la deuxième fois. Il semblerait que ce ne soit pas là que réside le refus. En effet, la PJ a également demandé d'avoir accès aux conversations, messages envoyés (sms) et localisation des appels passés avant le 03 mai. Nous savons depuis un certain temps que la PJ s'intéresse de près à la journée du 02 mai. Or, il semblerait que ce soit ces "écoutes" là qui posent problème. Elles seraient considérées comme illégales car antérieures à la disparition de Madeleine. Par contre, elles seraient considérées comme légales si, par exemple, Madeleine avait disparu le 02 mai et non le 03 mai.

A misunderstanding.

According to the press, the request to obtain that list as well as copies of the exchanged messages would have been refused by the judge for the second time. It would appear that this is not where the refusal lies. In fact, the PJ also requested to have access to conversations, messages sent (SMS) and location of calls made before May 3rd. We have known for some time that the PJ had a keen interest in the day May 2nd. So, it would appear that it was the, "wiretaps," which presented a problem. They would be considered illegal being before Madeleine's disappearance. On the other hand, they could be considered legal if, for example, Madeleine had disappeared on May 2nd and not May 3rd.


Ce que les parents risquent

Rien n'a changé. Les parents risquent la même chose aujourd'hui, qu'hier. Quels sont les options qui s'offrent à eux ?

1 - Ils acceptent de se rendre au Portugal afin d'y être jugé (Dans l'hypothèse fort probable d'une accusation) et ils y subissent leur peine (Dans l'hypothèse d'une condamnation). Encore que la peine pourrait-être effectuée dans les prisons britanniques, c'est une possibilité. Ajoutons que selon toute vraisemblance, seul un des deux parents pourrait être condamné. Les jumeaux ne seraient ainsi pas laissés seuls.

What the parents are risking.

Nothing has changed. The parents are risking the same today as yesterday. What are the options open to them?

1) They agree to return to Portugal in order to be tried (In the very likely event of an indictment) and they undergo their sentence (In the event of a conviction). Although the sentence could be carried out in British prisons. It is a possibility. Moreover, in all likelihood, only one parent could be sentenced. The twins would therefore not be left alone.


2 - Ils refusent de répondre aux convocations officielles du Tribunal et ne se rendent pas au Portugal. Ils seront condamnés par défaut (si condamnation il y a). Dans ce cas, ils seront signalés à rechercher dans tout l'espace Schengen. Ce qui signifie qu'il leurs sera très difficile de voyager où que ce soit. En outre, au moindre contrôle de police, de la moindre police locale, dans le moindre village reculé, du moindre petit pays au sein de l'espace Schengen, les parents seront arrêtés car signalé au Bulletin Central de Signalement. Puis déféré vers un organisme intra-Schengen qui s'occupera de les envoyer dans le pays émetteur du signalement. Arrivé sur place, ils subiront leur peine. Ce contrôle de routine peut leur arriver dans leur pays d'origine, le Royaume-Uni qui fait partie de l'espace Schengen. Notons au passage, que dans ce cas les jumeaux seront placés.

2) They refuse to respond to the court summonses and don't go back to Portugal. They would be sentenced by default (if there were to be a sentence). In this case, there would be notices to find them throughout the whole Schengen area. This means that it will be very difficult for them to travel anywhere. Besides, in the smallest police controlled area, of the smallest local police force, in the smallest remote village, in the smallest little country in the Schengen area, the parents will be arrested because reported by the Central Reporting Bulletin, then referred to an intra-Schengen agency which would involve itself in sending them to the reporting country. Arriving there, they would carry out their sentence. This routine check could happen to them in their country of origin, the United Kingdom, which is part of the Schengen area. We note in passing that in this case the twins will be placed.

Enfin, pour faire taire les rumeurs: NON les parents ne risquaient rien en retournant au Portugal participer à la reconstitution. Ils n'ont pas été placés en préventive par la police. Ils ont même pu quitter le pays et rentrer dans le leur. Leur statut n'ayant pas changé, il n'y avait aucune raison de subitement les mettre en détention préventive. Ils ne risquaient, donc, absolument rien, n'y pour eux, n'y pour les jumeaux, en coopérant avec la PJ lors de cette reconstitution qui fut, finalement, annulée. Le risque pour eux et les jumeaux semble bien plus grand si la Ministère Public avance avec une accusation formelle et que les parents essayent de soustraire à la justice portugaise.

Finally, to silence the rumours, NO the parents risk nothing by returning to Portugal to participate in the reconstruction. They have not been placed on bail by the police. They have even been able to leave the country and return to their own. Their status not having changed, there is no reason to place them on remand. They, therefore, risk absolutely nothing, neither for themselves, nor for the twins, in cooperating with the PJ in this reconstruction which was, in the end, canceled. The risk for them indeed seems great if the Public Ministry goes forward with a formal indictment and the parents try to evade Portuguese law.

http://www.kidnapping.be/maddie/maddie.html

30/05/08