“We are also trying to ensure that the families of civil parties are protected” – Pascale Vernay, first president of the Grenoble Court of Appeal before the assizes of Isère, this time, from January 31 to February 18, for the kidnapping and murder in August 2017 of little Maëlys, during a wedding party in Pont-de-Beauvoisin. It is an extraordinary trial with an organization prepared for a long time by the first president of the Grenoble Court of Appeal, Pascale Vernay and her team. The steering committee has met several times since 2019 on topics such as security, press accreditation (more than a hundred accredited journalists), reception of civil parties.
The audience hall of the Assizes being too small, a second room, room 16, has been reserved in particular for the press so that they can follow the debates by videoconference. “However, not everyone will be able to return. We will have to deny access to part of the public. We will ensure that the press can do its job calmly.” regrets Pascale Vernay, first president of the Court of Appeal who manages the logistics of the Lelandais trial. Audiovisual equipment will be installed at the last minute as this room is used daily for correctional calls.
“Not everyone will be able to return” – Pascale Vernay, first president of the Grenoble Court of Appeal
– Veronique Pueyo
As early as 2019, the Grenoble courthouse asked the Ministry of Justice a budget extension of 190,000 euros granted to him to prepare for the trial of Nordahl Lelandais. Pascale Vernay, first president of the Court of Appeal explains: “We made this request to equip the retransmission room with adequate equipment so that those who will not be able to follow the hearing in person because the room is too small. This money will also be used to accommodate the jurors, for meals in particular. But these investments will be sustainable for other future trials.”
An organization inspired by other exceptional audiences
The Grenoble magistrates were inspired by the organization of the first Noyer trial in Chambéry (Savoie) but also by the one currently being held on the attacks in Paris. Pascale Vernay retained this idea: “We will propose to the civil parties to wear a colored lanyard and depending on the color, the press will know whether or not this person agrees to be interviewed.” The Court of Appeal also had this innovative idea: “We appealed to the faculty of psychology of Grenoble and have obtained the voluntary help of a seasoned student who will be there to support the jurors who wish, because the hearing promises to be very trying” emphasizes Pascale Vernay
“We are also trying to ensure that the families of civil parties are supported” – Pascale Vernay, first president of the Grenoble Court of Appeal
– Veronique Pueyo
The shadow of covid and a postponement of the hearing
But a sword of Damocles hangs over this trial, namely covid and the Omicron variant. “We cannot require the sanitary pass at the entrance to the courthouse” specifies Pascale Vernay. “Barrier gestures must be all the more respected to avoid a covid and therefore adjourned hearing.
This second Lelandais trial promises to be under high tension, unlike what happened for the Chambéry trial during which Arthur Noyer’s father had calmed the atmosphere by taking Lelandais’ mother and sister in his arms. , who for him, were not responsible for the murder of his son. “So that the debates take place in serenity, the surroundings of the courthouse will be closed to traffic and _the police will be present to react to the slightest incident during the hearing_“ says Pascale Vernay.
It is Valérie Blain who will preside over the hearing, surrounded by two experienced assessors who both had to preside over sessions and jurors, drawn by lot. The Advocate General will be Jacques Dallest, the Attorney General himself.
– Veronique Pueyo