Toscan du Plantier murder trial likely to take place next year

A trial for the murder of French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, who was killed in Ireland in 1996, is likely to begin next year, her family’s lawyer has said.

Alain Spilliaert has said he believes a prosecution will be recommended after Judge Patrick Gachon hands over the final report from his ongoing inquiry later this week.

Judge Gachon spent eight days in Ireland in October to meet key witnesses, revisit the scene of Ms Toscan du Plantier’s unsolved murder, and meet with senior gardaí officers.

He is moving on from the case due to a forthcoming promotion.

Mr Spilliaert told The Irish Times that François Moulin, public prosecutor for France, will advise a new investigating magistrate on whether to push forward with prosecution based on Judge Gachon’s report.

He said: “We would expect that decision to take up to six months as Judge Gachon has compiled a very extensive file on the killing.”

Mr Spilliaert added: “I know that he is very satisfied with what he found during his visit to Ireland in October when he met with over 25 witnesses, and he was very pleased with the co-operation he received from the Irish police.”

Ms Toscan du Plantier, a little-known film producer, was beaten to death outside her holiday home in Cork in December 1996.

The initial investigation into the controversial murder was dogged with mistakes and the killing remains unsolved.