French paedophile ring case turns into judicial fiasco

[emad]

Jon Henley in Paris
Friday December 2, 2005
The Guardian


What began five years ago as one of France's most shocking paedophile cases last night turned into one of its biggest judicial fiascos as an appeals court acquitted six accused - meaning just four of the 17 men and women originally charged will finally have been found guilty.

"This case represents a major, catastrophic malfunction of the justice system," admitted the chief public prosecutor of Paris, Yves Bot, in a rare court appearance to offer his regrets to the accused and demand a full acquittal. "We must ensure this never happens again."


L'affaire d'Outreau, as it has become known after the name of the small northern town where the abuse supposedly took place, has raised questions about the extent to which children's testimony should be believed, and about the all-powerful role of the investigating magistrate.

The justice minister, Pascal Clement, was expected last night to announce changes to the law to ensure that in sensitive cases investigating magistrates, who conduct the police inquiry, hear witnesses and suspects and decide who is charged, are under supervision.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,11882,1656049,00.html

[DELUSIONAL]

1. When I first heard about this case -- red flags went up in my mind

it sounded too much like several cases in the US.

And now apparently my instincts were correct.

What is sad is that the harm done by some real sick people.