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Jacky Kulik poses with the portrait of his daughter, Élodie, November 21, 2019 at the Court of Assize of the Somme. DENIS CHARLET / AFP

Willy Bardon was sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment for the rape, abduction and kidnapping of Elodie Kulik, who was murdered in 2002 before attempting to end his life in the Somme Assize Court.

This is the epilogue of a "non-standard" trial: Willy Bardon was sentenced this Friday, December 6 to 30 years of criminal imprisonment by the Court of Assizes of the Somme for kidnapping and forcible confinement followed by death and rape. Elodie Kulik in 2002 but was acquitted of murder.

On the bench of the civil parties, Jacky Kulik, the father of the victim, broke down in tears, the family and relatives present behind him crying or hugging. For his part, Willy Bardon, shot and trembling, was evacuated out of the courtroom after swallowing " something " - according to his lawyer Stéphane Daquo - resembling a stamp. Following his conviction, Willy Bardon actually tried to commit suicide. He is currently resuscitated in a serious condition according to the public prosecutor. " We do not know what is the product he has ingested, " nor " how he could hide that " when he had " been searched, " added Alexandre de Bosschère.

Thirteen days of hearing, 47 witnesses and experts

After 13 days of hearings with 47 witnesses and experts at the helm, recounting the 180 or so hearings conducted by the investigators, the jurors followed the requisitions of the general counsel, going even beyond condemning the accused for the rape charge.

It was a case of " atrocities " committed against Elodie Kulik, a 24-year-old bank clerk kidnapped, raped, strangled and burned in January 2002 in Tertry, about 20 kilometers from Saint-Quentin in the Aisne. Before dying, the young woman called for help, a chilling 26-second record considered the centerpiece of the case, which shook the courtroom many times over for two weeks.

The sound of a voice, but no DNA

If the participation of Grégory Wiart, who died in 2003 and whose DNA was found on the crime scene in 2012, is " undeniable ", the two men heard on the recording " are inevitably part of his captors " and " the The only person close to "who is" recognized on the tape "by several witnesses is Willy Bardon, said General Counsel Anne-Laure Sandretto.

The defense pointed out the flaws in the investigation, which is based only on this soundtrack even though the prosecution insisted on 12 witnesses from Willy Bardon's entourage interviewed, " six are formal and acknowledge " on this recording.

The defense has raised many areas of doubt. This trial is one of "voice", but "Willy Bardon's DNA, we do not have it! "Notably launched Gabriel Dumenil master. This will not have been enough to convince the jury to clear Willy Bardon.

(With AFP)