This Monday, M6 will offer the first issue of
Call for Witnesses
from 9:05 pm.
Broadcast live, this program will appeal to the memory of viewers who may have in their possession essential elements in the progress of three unsolved cases.
A telephone number and an email address will be set up to collect testimonials from the public.
Each year, around 50,000 individuals disappear in France and 10,000 remain unexplained cases. Regularly, anonymous faces appear on our screens, in the press or on social networks, with the question: “Have you seen this person? In order to shed new light on three unsolved cases, M6 launches
Call for witnesses
as a bonus this Monday, presented by Julien Courbet and Nathalie Renoux. The goal? Collect new testimonials live from viewers (see box).
The first issue of the show will look at two high-profile cases and another less known to the general public.
The disappearance of Lucas Tronche, a 15-year-old teenager at the time of the events in 2015, who has vanished without a trace will be dealt with first.
The program will also return to the murder of Gaëlle Fosset, killed by 66 stab wounds by an individual she knew.
Finally,
Call for Witnesses
will try to bring elements to the disappearance of Suzanne Bourlier, a young retiree who went for a walk one afternoon and who has never returned.
Concretely, what will it bring together?
The C. Productions teams have been working on the program for two and a half years, in search of "the right formula" in the words of producer Jean-Marie Goix. A few months ago, they got in touch with the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice in order to move forward hand in hand. "For the first time in France, you are going to have on a television set, live at prime time, gendarmes, police officers and members of the Ministry of Justice present together to launch these calls for witnesses", underlines the producer during the presentation of the program to the press.
Monday evening, viewers will discover a set divided into three areas. On the one hand, the families will be there to testify and answer the facilitator's questions. On the other hand, police officers, gendarmes, prosecutors, criminologists or even psychologists will come to bring information around the gray areas. Finally, a call-room (or call unit in good French) will be set up to receive statements from the public. Within it, eight police and gendarmerie officials will respond to calls.
"No call will go on the air because there is respect for the instruction," says Jean-Marie Goix.
However, if ever the people taking the testimonies feel they have a witness with a potentially critical role on the phone, they can transfer the conversation backstage where investigators take over.
Business handled "with dignity and without voyeurism"
The choice of these three cases was left to the discretion of the investigators who kept two main selection criteria in mind. First, that this massive call for witnesses could be a game-changer as investigators are in the process of getting their questions answered. "We use this program because these cases are not resolved but there is already this colossal work which has been undertaken", specifies the police commissioner Lola Menahem. For example, 1,500 minutes have already been drawn up in the Lucas Tronche affair.
Second, it was essential that families agree to talk about their story on the plateau.
"The people concerned immediately told us that they had things to say and that they wanted to solicit viewers", explains the producer who does not intend to fall into voyeurism.
To do this, the show will not offer any focused commentary or reconstruction of the facts.
"It was a sine qua none condition that it be treated with dignity and without voyeurism," indicates Camille Chaize, spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior.
You cannot have a family on a plateau who attends a re-enactment even though it is their spouse or their child who has been killed or who has disappeared.
"
"We must not deprive ourselves of anything"
"For these families, it's a bit of a last-ditch operation," argues producer Jean-Marie Goix. The relatives of the victims hope that their case will progress thanks to this great barnum broadcast live and thanks to the collaboration of the Ministries of the Interior and of Justice. "When everything has been tried - the classic investigations, the most sophisticated technical and technological means - and despite all that, we are no longer able to move forward, we must not deprive ourselves of anything in the interest of the families », Adds Eric Maurel, the prosecutor of the Republics of Nîmes.
Bringing back precious memories to potential witnesses is what magistrates, investigators and judicial police officers hope. But the show could take on another dimension if it triggered a reaction from the alleged perpetrator. "If he is listening, he will tell himself that something is happening, that he will have to move and we will perhaps cause an error on his part," attests Fabrice Bouillé, head of the central service of the criminal intelligence of the national gendarmerie. There is an important psychological spring that we rely on in relying on this type of program. "
And after, what happens?
If the show achieves its goal, revealing a crucial element or triggering an arrest, the case should return to the news.
On the other hand, if the progress is less, news will be given at the beginning of the next issue.
In total, three programs should be broadcast each year on the antenna of M6.
Miscellaneous
"We keep hope", confides the mother of Lucas Tronche, five years after his disappearance
Society
How the gendarmes investigate the "cold cases", these cases which must "not be forgotten"
How to testify to the show?
For those who have information to reveal to investigators, the toll-free number (not surcharged) to dial is: 0.800.10.11.21.
The line will be open a few minutes before the live broadcast on Monday.
You can also reach the teams by email at the following address: appelatemoinsM6@interieur.gouv.fr.
Police
Television
Gendarmerie
Disappearance
Call for witnesses
Julien courbet
M6