6. The weight of silence

After long weeks devoted to the victims' testimonies, it is the time for Me Olivia Ronen and her client to be at the center of the debates before the special assize court. The lawyer has been preparing for this “V13” trial for a year, thinking about it every day. Despite the exchanges with Salah Abdeslam, she is unaware of the position he will ultimately take before the judges. Will the terrorist speak? He has never said anything yet, neither to the investigators nor to the judges. An unbearable silence for the victims. Quickly, the young lawyer is relieved: her client answers the questions. The trial is progressing. Two months later, the accused even made a spontaneous declaration: he affirmed before the judges that that evening of November 13, he wanted to give up. Was this really the case? But as the weeks pass, the atmosphere becomes more electric in the courtroom. For Me Olivia Ronen, the magistrates are not listening enough to her client's comments. Salah Abdeslam becomes angry, tension rises again with the judges, applause against the accused even rings out. The lawyer wishes to intervene but the president refuses her. For Me Olivia Ronen, the limits are crossed: she decides to leave the courtroom. The trial can no longer be held… In this episode of the podcast “The Terrorist”, Me Olivia Ronen recounts her feelings about this trial which will change her life at the microphone of Noémie Schulz, legal journalist.

The podcast “The terrorist” is produced by Europe 1 Studio.

[On June 29, 2022, Salah Abdeslam was convicted by the Paris Special Assize Court for his participation in the terrorist attacks of November 13, 2015. He did not appeal. His sentence, irreducible life imprisonment, is final. This podcast is therefore not intended to repeat the trial. It's about telling it from a unique point of view, that of Salah Abdeslam's lawyer, Me. Olivia Ronen.]

Credits

Journalist: Noémie Schulz

Director: Christophe Daviaud with Clément Ibrahim

Production: Fannie Rascle with Camille Bichler

Writing and distribution: Lisa Soster

Original Music: Sandy Lavallart

Musical Supervision: The Supervision

Visual: Sidonie Mangin with Axelle Maurel