It is undoubtedly the greatest case of pedophilia in France. Former surgeon Joël Le Scouarnec is accused of rape and sexual assault on 300 children between 1989 and 2014 in several hospitals in the west of France. His trial opens on February 24, in Vannes, before the criminal court of Morbihan. The city of Vannes, 50,000 inhabitants, and its court have been preparing for several years, with limited human and budgetary resources.
Three hundred victims, 60 lawyers, dozens of French and foreign journalists expected: the Vannes court never hosted a trial so “extraordinary”. It has been three years since the jurisdiction is working on its organization. To best anticipate the course of the four months of hearings, she asked for the experience acquired by other courts in matters of a great trial, explains Ronan Le Clerc, secretary general of the Rennes prosecutor’s office: “ We have asked that our Parisian colleagues who were in charge of organizing the trial of the November 2015 attacks or that of Nice can make us a return of experience so that we can take advantage of their achievements in terms of methodology. »»
For sixteen weeks, the trial of Joël Le Scouarnec will mobilize seven magistrates without the activity of the court continuing. A headache, but there too, everything is a matter of anticipation. “” It was necessary to do a whole job upstream so that the other criminal files could be examined before the trial of Joël Le Scouarnec and afterspecifies Ronan Le Clerc, By ensuring that the deadlines imposed on us by the criminal procedure are fully imposed on well. »»
A trial at three million euros
This trial labeled “Out of norm” also has a cost for justice: three million euros. A necessary sum for the development of three annexes to the small court of the court which has a hundred places. A first room will host the public-the trial not taking place in closed-closed doors-another for the press and an ex-university-upholstery to welcome the civil parties and their lawyers. The mayor of Vannes, David Robo, made it available free of charge. “” Everyone knows the state of public finances and those of the Ministry of Justice. I couldn’t see myself asking for a rent. I think that as elected by the Republic, justice must be served. And if I can bring back fluidity, rather than complexity to this trial, I would be happy “Comments the councilor.
The challenge of such a titanic trial also lies in supporting victims. This is the role of the association France Victims 56whose director, Carine Duneuf-Jardin, has already received several in her office: ” These people find themselves engaged in a legal machine where it is necessary to understand the termsshe underlines. They arrive with their questions: what does it mean to be a civil party? Do I have to take a lawyer? How much will it cost me? We are there to inform them so that they have the maximum elements in their possession to make their decision. »»
To support the victims during the hearing, France Victims 56 provides a lawyer and only … a psychologist. “” It would have been better to have twoconcedes the president of the association André Rolland, but the recruitment of a second practitioner was stopped a few weeks ago. We could only work constantly for a very simple reason: France did not have a budget. But maybe it will unlock, now that we have one. “Two psychologists would be a minimum,” said André Rolland to accompany the 300 alleged victims of Joël Le Scouarnec.