Côtes-d'Armor: Thierry Meunier found guilty of murdering his wife
After sixteen years, the Côtes-d'Armor assize court found Thierry Meunier guilty of the murder of Véronique Duchesne in 2010. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison and announced he would appeal.
The verdict delivered after sixteen years
According to letelegramme.fr, the Côtes-d'Armor assize court found Thierry Meunier guilty of the murder of his wife Véronique Duchesne, which occurred on 6 October 2010 in Saint-Quay-Portrieux. The verdict was delivered on Friday 9 October, after three weeks of proceedings and five hours of deliberation. The sentence is 25 years in prison, accompanied by ten years of judicial monitoring.
In the glass enclosure, the accused received the shock in silence. His hand at his mouth, he gripped the rail to steady himself. Nearby, the victim's daughters, Faustine and Margaux, collapsed in tears alongside their aunts Patricia and Brigitte, and their uncle Olivier.
The family's reactions
Upon leaving the courtroom, Me Jean-Guillaume Le Mintier, lawyer for the family, expressed an emotion rare in his career. "This is an incredibly satisfying decision. I think of Faustine and Margaux, who have waged this fight for sixteen years. This is a perfectly justified outcome," he declared. He also addressed a message to the accused, urging him to acknowledge the truth and to "liberate" the civil parties.
Patricia Duchesne, sister of the victim, saw in this verdict the recognition of what the family has endured. Her brother added: "Now, it is clear and precise: it is Thierry Meunier who is guilty and no one else. Not Edward J. or others." Patricia also emphasised the symbolic weight of the judgment for women who are victims of domestic violence, recalling that fifteen years ago, these issues were not taken seriously.
Maintenance of innocence and appeal
Before the verdict, Thierry Meunier proclaimed his innocence one last time to the jury: "I want to tell you one last time what I have been saying for sixteen years: I am innocent because I did not kill my wife Véronique."
His lawyers, Me Alba Horvat and Me Gautier Robert-Aupetit, announced that he would appeal the conviction without commenting further on the verdict. He therefore remains presumed innocent pending this new judicial examination.
Source: Google News FR — Crime (fr)