Sophie Toscan de Plantier - murdered 1996
On Friday, December 20, 1996, Sophie Toscan de Plantier arrived at Cork Airport and drove to her home in Schull, which the couple had bought three years before. Over that weekend, she sought out her favourite haunts and visited friends. Then she decided to return to Paris on Christmas Eve. That Sunday, she phoned her husband at 11.00pm and told him of her planned return the next day. But at 10 o'clock the next morning, a neighbour discovered Sophie's body in the laneway leading to her home. She was wearing a nightshirt, leggings and brown lace-up boots. She had been bludgeoned more that a dozen times with a blunt instrument. Then a large stone or concrete block had been dropped on her head, smashing her skull. Four years later, no one has been charged with the Frenchwoman's murder.
Garda inquiries have focused on a prime suspect, but the absence of conclusive forensic evidence has dogged the investigation. Almost Fourteen years later, no one has been charged with the Frenchwoman's murder. Garda inquiries have focused on a prime suspect.
Gardaí believe that Sophie Toscan du Plantier was running away from her attacker when she was brutally murdered. It is believed that on the evening or in the night of the 22 December Sophie was disturbed or surprised at her home by her killer. One thing is for certain, she suffered a brutal and cowardly killing.
While the tabloids poured out Ian Bailey’s insightful and exclusive reporting on the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, the Gardaí were starting to find Ian Bailey’s name appearing on their investigative radar. Ian Bailey lived in the area where Sophie had lived and where she was so brutally murdered. However, the Gardai had more information than this to identify Ian Bailey as a suspect. This information or ‘evidence’ was not enough to bring charges against Ian Bailey, but it was enough to have him arrested twice within a fourteen month period and subsequently released due to lack of evidence.
Later in 2003 Ian Bailey would bring civil actions against some newspapers for suggesting that he was in fact the murderer of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Some of these newspapers paid damages to Ian Bailey, others were cleared of any wrong doing. During the civil actions Bailey was painted as a very unpleasant person.
A FRENCH magistrate appointed to investigate the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier is to brief French forensic scientists shortly before they travel to Ireland to examine evidence and exhibits collected in the case by Gardaí. The team is due here in the next few months. Judge Patrick Gachon plans to brief a team of police forensic scientists from the Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie National as to the items and exhibits which he hopes they will examine when they come.
Last September, Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern confirmed that permission had been granted to Judge Gachon to send a forensic team to Ireland to examine the evidence gathered by Gardaí investigating the murder of French film producer Toscan du Plantier, in the course of an extensive investigation, Gardaí gathered more than 200 exhibits, though these were not included when Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy sanctioned the handing over of the file on the murder to France in 2008.
In addition to copies of diaries and notebooks seized from English journalist Ian Bailey when he was arrested for questioning about the killing, the exhibits include blood samples, nail scrapings and hair samples taken from Toscan du Plantier’s body. The blood samples have all been tested three times to date as technology has improved, but on each occasion results have shown the blood to be that of Toscan du Plantier.
In a French court, Ian Bailey was tried in absence and without defense and was convicted in a French court for the murder, he was sentenced to 25yrs.
The High Court in Ireland ultimately refused the French request to extradite Ian Bailey.
The recently released documentaries by Netflix and Sky, investigating the details surrounding this murder, only further highlights how gruesome and tragic this murder was. The killer remains free, their identity not proven, although there is still a suspicion that the killer is indeed, known.
Please feel free to comment and debate.
I will update more in the near future....
The pathologists findings needs revisiting in this case. The severe injuries found on Sophie's body may have been the result of events other than 'murder'. After weeks of exhaustive searching, the 'murder' weapon was not found. My view on this whole affair differs greatly from the widely held view that it was a murder. I believe the most likely scenario on the morning of the 23rd' December 1996 is; A. Sophie left the house in daylight, no lights were on inside the house. B.She went out to feed the horses near the house, horses were close to the house. The reports carried in the media at that time suggested Sophie may have gone to investigate something in the early morning light. My view is that, her injuries went unrecognised for what the possible causation was, namely horse bites and horse kicks. All the reinvestigating is futile if her injuries are not looked at again.
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind that it was December 23rd, daylight would not break until between 8-9am. Her body was discovered at 10am. Investigators believe she was disturbed at her home during the night.
DeleteNo doubt the delay of the pathologist arriving at the crime scene did not help matters but the injuries suffered by Sophie do not point towards anything but murder. She was hit multiple times with a blunt instrument and had a rock dropped on her head. How can you imagine a scene where horses would inflict those type of injuries? Makes no sense.
In the early days of the investigation, investigators also considered the possibility of Sophie leaving the house to investigate something in the early morning light. Dawn arrived over Toormore at 08.07 on that morning in 1996. Weeks of searching with metal detectors failed to locate the 'murder' weapon? A sustained attack on a human by a horse or a number horses will result in this type of severe injury. The equine teeth marks were confused with the heel of a Doc Marten boot. As I said, the pathology of injury needs revisiting.
DeleteIn the early days of the investigation, investigators also considered the possibility of Sophie leaving the house to investigate something in the early morning light. Dawn arrived over Toormore at 08.07 on that morning in 1996. Weeks of searching with metal detectors failed to locate the 'murder' weapon? A sustained attack on a human by a horse or a number horses will result in this type of severe injury. The equine teeth marks were confused with the heel of a Doc Marten boot. As I said, the pathology of injury needs revisiting.
DeleteThe land in that area would not offer good grazing in December and the horses, which we know were kept in a field adjoining the track would have been hungry. Hungry horses can be very pushy and Madame Toscan du Plantier was apparently tres petite.Without the benefit of a forensic or autopsy report , but with some experience of horses I can visualise this as misadventure. A concrete block could be knocked off a wall onto a person on the ground.However, I would imagine there would be equine DNA in the immediate surroundings. Broken fingers and a stamped upon neck sound like he kind of injuries one might expect.
DeleteIn theory it is possible that the horses could have attacked and killed Sophie but to suggest that the Gardaí couldn`t distinguish this for themselves is slightly naïve. You would expect to find some extraordinary circumstances where a horse or horses attacked her and then knocked a concrete block on her head. It`s an extremely unlikely scenario and even if this was such a freak occurrence, the evidence would show this. Experienced murder detectives claim this is a brutal murder.
DeleteReply to 11hoffa - Very much looking forward to you appearing on C.S.I West Cork in the near future. Sophie de Plantier deserves so much more than this risible amateur shylocking...Ps we all know who did it and those of us who know 'him' know what he is capable of. The only hope is that one day improvements in Forensics detection can prove it. Meanwhile he runs rings around the legal system and has managed to somehow garner a degree of misplaced public sympathy as an innocent man unjustly accused. One day the truth will out...Ian.
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened to ' innocent until proven guilty' ?
Delete'Witness' evidence obtained by the Gardai has been thrashed. Naming suspects without charging them is outrageous.
ReplyDeleteAnd so no movement on the "murder" debacle. My youtube video, Sophie Toscan du Plantier Case-An Alternative Insight, is there to be viewed.
ReplyDeleteIf you can, talk the talk, you should be able to walk the walk!!!!!!
Is not an Forensics Pathologist that will present the medical evidence required to secure a conviction when a charge of murder is served. The opinion offered states, "this block could have been used" The experienced detectives will have no say in that aspect of this case.
ReplyDeleteIt is open to interpretation, the pathologist can only offer an opinion as to what may have caused the type of injuries the victim received, absent of any weapon found at the scene but not dismissing that the killer may have left the scene with the murder weapon. Either way this is just speculation, the investigating detectives would have far more evidence not publicly revealed that almost certainly pointed them in the direction of murder. I am not dismissing the theory that she was attacked by a horse, i`m just assuming there is more to it than we know.
DeleteYes,interpretation and opinion will be a key factor, however investigators and the media had confirmed a murder long before any medical evidence was discovered, and unfortunately before the next of kin was informed of the death.
ReplyDeleteSophie sustained more than 50 injuries to her body, with indications she was trying to get away. I`m no expert on horses but I find it unlikely a horse would attack in such a manner, a horse may bite and kick out but a sustained brutal attack which crushes her skull?
ReplyDeleteYou should research injuries caused by horses. You might change your opinion
DeleteMares and foals, and we are back to interpretation and opinion!!! anyway thank you for an interesting exchange.
ReplyDeleteIt`s always good to hear different opinions and theories. Maybe someday the truth will out, maybe not. I`m wondering if you think she was out with the horses, what made her get out of bed and do this? It doesn`t make sense for her to be out there like that, what was the purpose and where is the evidence to back it up?
DeleteShe would be out of bed due to the arrival of daylight, sunrise at 08.07. No lights on indoors.
ReplyDeleteStomach contents showed fruit and nuts had been taken, this food suggests possibly breakfast.
The lady was keen on horses, and as a child was in their company in Combret in Lozzerre in France.
Her attire was sufficient enough for a short visit outdoors.
A review of all the injuries may be of benefit to many people, but an unwelcome idea for many more.
What you have written is a copycat of my thoughts.
DeleteThere are many reports in other countries of young stallions (male horses) being overly exited by the smell of human women menstrutaing at 'time of the month' and being attacked any in many cases killed by the young male horses. It is important to establish if Sophie was at 'time of the month'.
ReplyDeleteIt was the middle of winter on the south west coast of Ireland. Nobody would leave the house voluntarily in a shirt and leggings, without a coat or cardigan of some sort.
ReplyDeletehow come she had time to get her boots on then?
DeleteSomething obviously caused Sophie to leave the house, whether she did this under duress or not is not known. It does seem like the killer returned to the house, the blood near the door handle indicates this to me. There is nothing publicly known to suggest the killer was actually in the house at any time.
Deletemaybe she went out at dusk the dressing gown was bright blue and she wore it so she would be seen at low light. Maybe she didn't have a brightly coloured coat.
ReplyDelete