There is a big difference between working on a building site and being enraged over a short period of time. A woman could have handled the latter and maybe could work on abuilding site if they wanted https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/female-bricklayer-from-attleborough-goes-viral-on-tiktok-7911698
We don't know it happened like that.
By all accounts, Sophies skull was intact with fractures, not smashed to pieces.
There's no doubt the concrete block was used, but unlikely in the way you've described.
This is it.
It strikes me as someone who didn't know HOW to kill. A big man could have overpowered and killed Sophie much more simply and quickly than the chaotic attack that took place.
I'm not saying I think it was a woman, but it can't be discounted either.
Or someone who wanted to kill without getting too close and running risk of getting scratched / leaving forensics behind.
And general point there werent 50 blows but 50 wounds which includes scratches and scrapes from running through briars trying to escape iirc
I think the sheer method of how Sophie was killed will continue to baffle us, and also be room for further speculation. Regarding the method of killing, my gut feeling is that it was either a very long hate the killer had against her, or to send a message to others.
I'd say, any big strong man could have strangled her with his bare hands with ease, rather than using this cavity block. Strangling her from behind with his bare hands would hardly have made any noise as well, and could equally have come as a surprise for Sophie.
And then there is the question if the killer had killed before or if it was the first killing he ever did? For both options there are equal reasons to consider. I would be inclined to believe it was the killer's first murder ever, and he never killed again, of course there is no prove for this either, but it's just a feeling I have. He did it either as he was coerced to do so, or he had a personal hate for her for whatever unknown speculative reason we have.....
Exactly. I don't think it's ever been publicly stated just how many times she was struck. It may well have only been a small number of times, with the rest of the injuries coming from briars etc.
No it was 50 blows, I'm pretty sure.
Different blunt instruments tho.
My point is we don't know exactly what damage the concrete block did.
Were there ever similar murders in Ireland? Like of similar gruesomeness? Not necessarily a concrete block but other blunt instruments? I am sure the polices must have looked for similar murders.
You mean whether the Sophie was already dead when the concrete block was used? Or that it could have inflicted multiple injuries from one 'blow' so to speak?
This is the most detailed article I've seen about the coroner's report.
It doesn't list a specific number, but I haven't seen it stated anywhere it was 50 blows, rather than 50 'injuries', which could include briar scratches.
If you have a better article about the report, please share.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/a-brutal-death-in-black-and-white-1.922863
I don't know.
However, here's a new suspect for the list. Was living rough in west Cork at the time of the murder, and less than 2 weeks later, this happened.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/court-told-two-hatchets-found-in-man-s-car-1.18479
God. It's beginning to sound like the wild west. One of those who knew her said..
'Ms Toscan du Plantier "wasn't afraid of much", even in situations that carried a risk.
He gave the example of the time she had allowed a homeless person to sleep in her car, and the time she had invited another homeless man to have a meal with her.'
Two Hatchets in Car!
One wonders did the guards question this character about his movements on the night of the murder..
By reading this, it seems he was just another drifter in the area, with no fixed abode. As I've written before, lot's of drifters and strange characters also seem to attract the South West of Ireland.
Overall, I don't think that a complete stranger and drifter would have killed Sophie.
I'd say, killer and victim either knew each other well, and or motive to kill was very strong.
I wonder did the hatchets match? Why two. Missing hatchet?
Maybe a young buck, teenager .
Familiar with the area and maybe even her house, with access to the keys?
The thing is, whoever had the keys to her house knew the layout of the rooms. The only way how I could think that somebody gotten the keys, is that somebody had a spare key made of the one her caretaker had. Possibly somebody close to the caretaker.
However since the locks were changed prior to the murder the matter of the keys and even who used the bathtub in her absence is most likely unrelated to the murder. Also, as far as we know, nothing was stolen from her house.
Forget about someone breaking in to use the bath, probably never happened, the breaking in I mean.
Otherwise you're on the right lines.
Apart form possibly the hatchet, wine? and diary. A key may have been left under a block or someplace. Common enough thing to do in case you lock yourself out at night.
I'm not sure why some people here persist in heading down ridiculous garden paths but I'm sure they have their reasons.
If there were to be any serious investigation by Drew Harris, it would have to start with Detective 'Colombo' Dwyer and some of the detectives in his team. He was the person who came up with the yarn about Bailey. He decided that he had a body by the gate and some traces of blood at the house and had to quickly think up some narrative that didn't sound too ridiculous when combining both these facts. In the high court case taken by Bailey, his evidence was in direct contradiction of evidence given by a DPP, regarding pressure being put on a state solicitor, Malachy Boohig, to get Bailey charged.
The questions for Colombo would try to ascertain who it was(they were?), that was so furious about front-page stories on leading newspapers shortly after the murder, that instructed him to 'make' a murderer. Some truth was in danger of being exposed that would be so damning that it had to be hidden and has been ever since. There are all sorts of possibilities, we have heard about the Guards attempting a very elaborate sting in the area around that time.
I'm pretty sure that Drew Harris would have had to be briefed about any undercover operations, present and past against criminals/subversives, when he joined the force. If some agent gets killed while working, one can understand that the public won't learn anything about the particular operation.
Are you thinking she was some kind of agent?
As I said there are all sorts of possibilities.
The Gardai have never been big into running secret agents or sting operations. Maybe it's time to shut down this thread.
Do you get regular briefings from the Commissioner about what's happening?
I don't know why you feel the thread should be shut down, there are thousands of other things you could do with your time.
There is a bit more on this on page 168. These big drug-busts must require some information on the 'inside'?
Could be a Euro side to it too. A lot of it was coming in to Cork for onward distribution. What better than to cut it at the source.
Speculation and theories about unsolved murders such as this particular one are inevitable but have strayed in to the realm of the absurd on this particular thread lately. Drew Harris is unlikely to order a review or reopening of the case in the absence of any new and compelling evidence which might require him to do so.
If there wasn't another investigation after what was revealed in Bailey's high court action there will never be.
I have two certainties from studying this case. Bailey had nothing to do with the murder and there was a Garda cover-up.
In the case of the cover-up we will never find out why.
If Harris is determined to get to the bottom of what went on instead of whitewashing it like every review since, then there's hope.
Of course it was a cover up. Wether he will finally admit it or not is another thing.
Well according to the Echo the case is being reviewed at the moment.
https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-40734858.html
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