Cold Case Review of Sophie Tuscan du Plantier murder to proceed

She actually made a phone call at 17.30 to a friend in Paris (a message was left on the answerphone). She called Josie twice but she was out and her daughter took the messages. Josie then phoned Sophie back at @ 22.00. She also phoned the man who was going to sort the chimney (it was smoking). He too was out and his daughter took the message but he did not call her back until the next day. Then the final call to Daniel who was on another call but phoned her back.

I'll check his statement for time but it was unanswered.

It is intriguing to hear that Finbarr Hellen made such a comment regarding Alfie. One of the many aspects of the investigation that has always puzzled me is the lack of a closer focus on Alfie. As someone who certainly knew Sophie, was definitely there, had at least some friction with her, claimed to have neither seen nor heard anything and made no attempt to check for life before calling the gardai, it seems to me that he should have been the subject of more intensive scrutiny.

@bjsc or any other posters.

Is there any general timeline of when the cold case team are going to have their final analysis and conclusions? Or guess it's possibly unknown

Is it likely they will also tie everything in with the Mvac analysis in the same way. If MVac did turn up alternative analysis would that take months to map back to DNA profiles or possibly years...

It really has to be this year I guess that all final analysis is laid out prior to the 30th anniversary. Would that be reasonable to say?

Thanks for that. Just generally then from the perspective of actually closing it off to the point it's at now, will the CCR team have obligation to state we have obtained nothing new for example and have reviewed all evidence but nothing of any further value has been obtained or does it remain open indefinitely. Like I'm just thinking even for family..even if it likely to be news they don't want but clarification of same that no new evidence, will that not be requirement from CCR team. furthermore for Jules Thomas and any others significantly impacted will they not be afforded some firm of update to move on with their lives..it has been difficult for those people too.

Im just at odds as to what happens if ultimately everything has been trashed through the CCR team has to give some update albeit it is nothing..in the end or at least this year being anniversary.

That's about it, really.

Though I don't agree with you about DNA found on night-clothes;

Not many people ever actually touch our pyjamas or dressing-gown, do they?

Precious few…and they probably could all be identified.

Given he also has a history with miscarriages of justice I think it's safe to say it's somewhat of a passion project for Sheridan. I wouldn't be surprised also it is also mostly self-funded which isn't typical, so when there is a lack of budget, I think it more means that he wants to be thrifty. The likes of Moloney and other journalists are making money from clicks every time they release a new article, and basically it just costs them a tank of petrol to go around harassing Shirley and the likes.

Its all well and good to say beyond reasonable doubt, but I think if the killers DNA had been found, and the gardai had the opportunity to check their alibi, and interview them under caution along with anyone else associated with them then there is a good chance they would have been arrested and charged. The media would have been the same circus as it was with Bailey, and if someone is looking down the barrel of murder and life in prison, there probably would have been a lot of incentive for them to accept a manslaughter charge etc. rather than go in front of a jury. If they had no alibi, or worse if they were relying on someone else to verify, then I think they would have been convicted.

It was probably not revealed but was the house and area cleaned and devoid of fingerprints? I mean did they find fingerprints in the normal areas (i.e. doors, windows switches etc) as would be expected?

I agree for the most part, if they found a bunch of different DNA, and didn't have any other evidence, and couldn't get a confession then how would they be able to pick out the murderer, in addition perhaps it was all just coincidental.

Generally though when gardai find DNA evidence they keep it close to their chest and pursue the investigation step wise. I think if the killer's DNA was found, they would have honed in on them, whether it was coincidental or not. In addition we don't know for certain what other information the Gardai had outside of what pointed at Bailey.

These days though I think it would be a much harder case to prosecute, not least from the fact that so much time has passed, numerous people have died, and also if it wasn't Bailey how could you convince a jury beyond reasonable doubt when you pursued someone else for a couple of decades.

It's a good question. I think in one of the documentaries Gililgan specifically said they tested the wine glasses by the sink for fingerprints and found none. Now they had been washed, so perhaps not surprising. Interestingly he didn't mention the wine glass on the mantelpiece. You would hope they tested it, and also the back door handle as those are very possible to have recently been handled by the killer. Presumably though there could have been dozens of people touching various surfaces in the house. I don't think the killer would have gone into the house after to clean up, whether themselves or any mess/prints, however I do think it is possible they were present in the house before the murder, especially if Sophie knew them fairly well.

Like FFS- what a complete load of twaddle - to be prosecuted for “assisting a killer”, you need first to be able to clearly identify who that killer is- after nearly 30 years, no one has

Senan seriously, you’re embarrassing yourself now - we’re not MAGA supporters - we do have a fcking brain .

“It is understood a prosecution may still be sought against a person or persons who may have assisted the killer after the fact.”

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/crime/prosecution-may-still-be-sought-in-sophie-toscan-du-plantier-murder-case-two-years-after-death-of-suspect-ian-bailey/a1519765857.html