Cold Case Review of Sophie Tuscan du Plantier murder to proceed. **Threadbans lifted - see OP**

Yes, there's probably a simple explanation, like just wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle.

She did appear to bring a large amount of luggage for a short stay, for someone who lived simply while in Ireland.

Is there any record of what she brought with her?

She would usually bring gifts for the Hellens, but she hadn’t visited them this time for some reason. In the photos there is a duty free bag in the sitting room, maybe somethings to give Josie when she met up with her later that day?

Yes, and to add to those interesting points - perhaps someone with no fear of being caught \ no fear of the Guards or thinking themselves above the law.

I quess the current review will look at all that. There may, as discussed earlie,r be some details being held back to incriminate the killer(s)

I find it hard to believe she did not bring gifts for the Hellen’s.

Perhaps there were other bottles? Unfound..

I assume she usually flew from Charles De Gaulle airport?

If not it could be some sort of clue...murderer shows up with a fancy bottle of French wine to charm her. She says she's not interested, murderer takes it personally and attacks her. Throws the bottle of wine away in a huff afterwards

That's where she flew in from in december 1996 and she was due to fly back to Toulouse on Christmas Eve

We have to wonder; under what circumstances would anyone either throw away a bottle of French wine, or hide it in a ditch?

I've sometimes found a bottle of beer, or a can or two, shoved into a hedge; usually near where teenagers have been partying outdoors, or similar. But this doesn't seem to be the case here, on a private premises with no other signs of "messing about"

I can only think, a wild guess, that this bottle had been IN the house, on a shelf or whatever.

The person who killed Sophie went briefly TO the house, (leaving a small smear of her blood on the back door) (which might have been left open when she came out) - and they did a quick scovey round, snatched a bottle of wine, (and what else?) pulled the door behind them and then made their escape.

At the last minute they realise that this bottle would be very incriminating so they give it a hasty wipe and push it into the ditch before they leave.

All pure speculation, I admit it.

We know that Sophie was dressed to go outside, maybe she went down to the gate with the wine as a Christmas present. If she hadn’t given the Hellens anything yet, that could have included neighbours etc.

Does anyone know if what the Independent recently reported is accurate, that it was a habit of Sophie’s to wear her boots with her pyjamas in the morning because of the cold floors?

The bottle of wine has to be connected to the murder in some way but maybe not in the way we think, maybe it was planted to point the investigation in a certain direction.

It sounds plausible, even though speculative.

The question would also be, how valuable this wine really was. Back then, a duty free shop was really cheap, not like today. And wine is in general also cheaper in France than in Ireland, even back then it was. So after all the bottle of wine was probably not that expensive.

Again also speculation.

She could also have brought the bottle of wine on a previous trip and left it at the house? Also possible.

Can anyone shed any light on the flight home?

Do we know for sure when she was due to fly home and where she was flying to? I think I've seen Toulouse mentioned before but don't know if it was a direct flight or not. She wouldn't have been flying on Christmas Day anyway.

Statement of Mr Daniel Toscan du Plantier, 55 years, producer, made to Jean Louis Chaumet, Police Commandant

I dont know if it is related to the case but I am thinking there's not much else within 900 metres?

There has been mention of holiday homes being broken into in West Cork and drinks cabinets raided.