Trial of November 13: the director of the forensic institute rekindles the trauma of families

The Paris courthouse, where the trial of the November 13 attacks is being held, here September 9, 2021. © Gonzalo Fuentes, Reuters

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2 min

On the 11th day of the trial of the attacks of November 13, 2015, the Special Assize Court heard on Thursday, September 23, the director of the forensic institute (IML), who received the bodies of the victims for examination or autopsy.

His testimony rekindled the anger of many civil parties, traumatized by the reception given when they recognized the bodies of their loved ones.

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First of all, there is the harsh evocation of the causes of death: " 

Cranial crash, massive haemorrhages, laceration of the organs."

 " 

Still cold and technical terms

, the director of the Forensic Institute Bertrand Ludes continues: the"

high velocity projectiles

"that are the Kalashnikov bullets did considerable damage. Before listing: 39% of deceased people were affected in two areas, 24% in three areas, 4% in four areas… with up to these 32 orifices identified on the same body.

Most of the deaths were " 

immediate

 ", the victims of massive hemorrhages they expired " 

in three to four minutes

 ", but those affected to the limbs were undoubtedly agonized longer, explains the doctor… Assailed with questions on specific cases by the lawyers who relay the

questions of families

, always cruelly in search of information on the last moments of their relatives six years after the facts.

But these are not their only concerns.

For a long time without an answer on the fate of their relatives for some, forced not to stay more than five minutes at the time of the presentation of the bodies for the most part, they are numerous to have felt mistreated.

" 

If it happened like that, I apologize,

 " said the doctor at last.

“ 

But it was like that

!

 Shouts a woman in the room.

And then, the terrible mistakes: some bodies have been reversed the identity of a deceased person confused with another injured.

It took six days for the young Lola, who died in hospital, to be identified at last.

►

 To read also:

Trial of November 13: a commissioner in the hell of the Bataclan

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