- Tyler Vilus is the first French accused of murder committed in Syria to appear before the special assize court. He is also suspected of having led a group of combatants there.
- On Tuesday, the mother of one of Tyler Vilus' wives testified in court.
- Without news of her daughter and despite her collaboration with the courts during the investigation, this woman learned during her hearing of the death of her child in 2017 in Mosul.
Tyler Vilus had warned his mother-in-law. "I have an answer for everything," he wrote to her in 2014 when he communicated by Skype with the mother of his wife at the time, Inès. This Tuesday, six years later and facing this 47 year old woman who came to testify at his trial, the Trojan jihadist lost his words. If Leila D. made the trip to the Palais de Justice in Paris on Tuesday, it was to tell the special assize court of the links and relationships between her daughter and Tyler Vilus.
Leaving for Syria at the age of 19, Inès was the second wife of this “emir” of Daesh who is today on trial for criminal criminal criminal association, the management of a terrorist enterprise and for two murders committed in the area. Without news from Inès since 2017 and despite her collaboration with justice and the intelligence services, Leila D. learned this morning, and in front of the court, the death of her daughter under the bombings in Mosul.
"She wanted to leave but she couldn't"
Clinging to her shoulder bag, Leila D. said it from the start of her hearing: "I don't know why I'm here". Laurent Raviot, the president of the special assize court, tries to sort through the confused memories of this mother overwhelmed by the chaotic journey of her daughter in Syria. "You are the mother of Inès. We know that your daughter was religiously married to Mr. Vilus in this case, ”he says. But very quickly, the discomfort settles: "I would like to have answers compared to my daughter, I worry, since the end of May 2017, I have no more news", sobs the witness at the stand. On several occasions since the start of this trial, the fate of Inès has been mentioned. According to information gathered by the DGSI, the daughter of Leila D. was killed with her child during the fall of the caliphate in Mosul in Iraq.
Step by step, Laurent Raviot first tries to rekindle the memories of this mother who alerted the police of Ines's departure for Syria in 2013. "At the beginning I talked a lot with my daughter on the phone, I know that her first husband had fucked her at the door and she had remarried, ”she explains. This second husband is called Tyler Vilus. And he exercises permanent control over Inès, says the young woman's mother: "He did not let her call me because I was not in Islam (…) He told her that I was a bad Muslim (… ) She was calling me secretly. She wanted to leave but she couldn't ”, continues Leila D. In court, she says she felt her daughter“ traumatized by this boy ”.
"Is my daughter dead?" "
Slowly, the president asks the question that rocks the hearing: "You do not know what has become of your daughter?" Intelligence didn't inform you? " Leila D. repeats: "I don't know where my daughter is, I haven't heard from since 2017". Cornered by the desperation of this mother, Laurent Raviot announces: "According to the information we have, she would have died under a bombardment with her daughter".
"Why are you doing this?" Why are you taking our children? "
Silence ensues. Leila D. falters and whispers: "My daughter is dead? But she was three months pregnant. "She swivels towards the box and explodes in front of the accused:" Why are you doing this? Why are you taking our children? What am I doing here now? She explodes in tears. Her anger overflows and in court, she asks: "Why haven't we closed the borders?" Why did the miners leave with other papers? We too have the right to demand accounts! I was hunted down like a thief, I was searched, they took everything from me, we were never on our side. "
Condolences and an interview
In the room, the audience freezes. In the box, Tyler Vilus stands up. Usually so talkative, the man clears his throat, is silent then whispers: "I learned of the death of my daughter in the office of the investigating judge. I understood what it was like to lose a child. I would like to offer my condolences, even if it does not change anything. The hearing comes to an end, the president slides to Leila D. that she will be paid for her coming to court and adds: "It is ridiculous, I know".
Huge discomfort at the #Vilus trial: the mother of the second wife of the jihadist comes to testify. She explains that she has not heard from her daughter since 2016. The president is surprised and announces that her daughter, according to the testimony of her last husband (not Vilus) would have died as well as
- Matthieu Suc (@MatthieuSuc) June 30, 2020Faced with the violence of this hearing, the Advocate General behind the arrival of this witness wanted to react after a suspension. "We have been examining serious facts for a week and we probably lacked humanity this morning (...) I was convinced that this lady had been informed beforehand of the death of her daughter (...) We will receive her to give her explanations that she is entitled to expect and so that she can start her mourning work. "
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- Daesh