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

@bjsc I believe there were other "unidentified" fingermarks also inside the house, that they couldn't necessarily tie to anyone (including Sophie). Is there any description of where these marks were located? I believe that the gardai ultimately came to the conclusion that no one had entered the house during the course of the encounter (before, during or after). I can only assume that they did not pick up any footprints in the house, or how else could they come to that conclusion, is there anything in the files related to this?

If he went near the body to check he surely wouldn't pretend he didn't go near it and then risk having his dna discovered on it?

It was 1996 they wouldnt have been looking for DNA as in skin cells like these days. Back then it was fingerprints, saliva, blood etc

I dont find Alfies description credible ... why stop at 20 yards. It might have been a white lie to cover innocently getting close to the body to check on it but it never rang true to me.

Yes, that’s the difficult bit, but I’m thinking he either made the decision that his dna and finger marks would be around the area anyway ,or maybe he just hoped for the best and got lucky.

If Alfie’s was the only dna discovered on the body, it would be game over.

It certainly would!

A neighbour who knew Sophie - and had had disputes with her - over access, and noise - not to mention clandestine use of her house when vacant; plus, a regular user of the lane and the gate - and his DNA (or any clue) found on or near the body or the house - game, set and match.

It would still be a dang sight more forensic evidence than they ever got against Ian Bailey.

Indeed, especially if Sophie was wearing her night clothes at the time.

Of course the blood could also have been transferred by Shirley accidentally. She had no idea what she had just driven past at the gate. She only realised it was a body when she saw the naked shoulder with blood on it. Did she move some clothing to get a closer look? Her route back up to alert Alfie took her through the gate into Sophie's lawn and up around the back of Sophie's house past the back door. Did she try the the back door on her way past, as she says she had no idea it was Sophie at this stage.

(Maybe @bjsc has a better copy of this statement)

Here's a video of Shirley explaining how she found the body that morning. It's French and subtitles are bad, but you can work out what she is saying.

https://youtu.be/R2-n9bZ72g8?t=2344

This is very possible. And also, of course, we shouldn't forget that they may not have known that Sophie had been alone in the house; she usually brought a guest when she visited. You'd naturally want to warn her companion, if any.

Certainly the killer, seeing the car, may have wanted to check that there was nobody else in the house - a potential witness of the crime.

I don’t know, but both said they did not realise it was Sophie until the Gardaí told them, I don't know if that was after Finbarr Helen identified the body. Alfie said, while waiting for the Gardaí, he went to Sophie's house to warn her, I don't know what that involved, But with her car parked up and no lights on in the house, you would imagine he would try the door.

In Shirley's statement above, she says Alfie pointed out to her there was a stain on the back door that appeared to be blood, so yes, he must have noticed it.

As to whether he found the back door open or closed, and whether his fingermarks were found on it, I don't know.

All very good questions!

We already know that it WAS possible to hear a loud noise from one house to the other - (since the time that Sophie complained about the noise from a party at Alfie's.)

So if they didn't hear a sound from her house, it implies that the row / assault took place down at the gate where the body was found. The gate that stood open.

As if Sophie heard or saw something or someone down at the gate and put on her boots to go down and take a look. Leaving her door open. Got into an argument ? with who, about what?

Apparently the state of the body was such that they both felt sure she was dead. So very obviously a murder and no accident.

Yes; a sad and shocking omission. Though I understand their position (shock and horror etc) It still would have been the right thing to do. Either to confirm death, or maybe find the last trace of life. And also yield useful information on whether the body was cold, still warm, rigor set in or not — etc etc. Would have helped SO much in establishing the time of death!

Alfies house was an older house - It looks like it had no insulation and wooden, single glazing windows - the type that doesnt even keep the cold out let alone sound. I grew up in a house with similar and you would certainly hear noise outside. Of course possibly their hearing wasnt the best or they were sound sleepers.

If the commotion did start at the house than why didnt Sophie run towards her neighbours ( Alfies) house screaming. It was her only chance of getting to safety or perhaps scaring her attacker that they flee. This and the fact she had time to put on boots would indicate to me that she didnt flee in a hurry - she went down to the gate for a reason.

I find it very odd that both Alfie and Shirley didnt think straight away that the body could be Sophie. There was no other house in sight, they would have known Sophie was in residence because her car was there, they seen the light on the night before etc. Why didnt they think the body could be Sophie - that seems really odd. Not calling an ambulance makes me think they definitely knew she was dead although they say they didnt go near the body. First instinct for most people in that situation would be to call an ambulance.

I was about to type a similar post but you've outlined exactly what I would have written.

I know the word 'murder' was used over the Garda radio until the operator advised against it, but was it used early on before the first Gardaí arrived at the scene?

@bjsc is an experienced forensics investigator, she is of the opinion that the block was already in situ and may not have been used as a weapon, but it was found resting on her clothes, so must have been moved or rolled onto the blue house-coat. Prof. Harbison suggested the block was taken from the pumphouse to be used for the final blows. It was found a bit away from Sophie's head, down by her left hip. There is an incline and it may have rolled, but would the killer have lifted the block after the final blow and put it that far away? Or would they have left it where it fell, and someone rolled the block away and then realised what they had come across?

Garda sketch of the scene with the bloody stone by the head and the block down by the left hip.

It's a bit out, should be straight across from other pillar.

Edited sketch above now.

You can see the green post box by the opposite pillar,

I take your point “it’s hard to know” 100%-indeed, and I hope both you and I never do learn to “know”

@bjsc, going back to this, if I may. He was the local 'peeping Tom' with no alibi for that night, is there any statements from him in your files? Unlikely I suppose if they steered the inquiry away from Bailey.

Any luck?