This is a case that has shaken the whole of France and which, three years later, continues to experience twists and turns. Thursday, March 18, 2021, the Grenoble prosecutor's office made its final indictment in the Maëlys De Araujo case. This requires the referral to the Assize Court of Nordahl Lelandais, suspected of having kidnapped, raped and then killed the 8-year-old girl, August 26, 2017. Deputy prosecutor Boris Duffau said the two investigating judges have ten days to "Write an order in which they will decide what action they think should be taken". If the suspect is to be tried in court, he will be on the charges kidnapping, forcible confinement and murder, and not for murder. So this means that premeditation was not retained.
The prosecution also wants Nordahl Lelandais to be brought to justice for the sexual assault on her two underage cousins, as well as for possession of images and recording ofchild pornography images. The deputy prosecutor further indicated that the defense lawyer "Filed a request for the invalidity of the last psychiatric expertise which had been granted by the investigating chamber". In it, Nordahl Lelandais had made chilling confessions on the murder of Maëlys. A hearing is scheduled for April 7 to consider this request.
Nordahl Lelandais soon to be tried for the murder of Arthur Noyer
This is yet another blow to the De Araujo family. October 6, 2020, Nordahl Lelandais had already escaped an indictment for rape in the context of this case. The judges then decided to place him under the status of assisted witness – which means that there are indications that may suggest his guilt, but which are however not convincing enough – despite the will of the prosecution and the parents of Maëlys . The investigation followed the testimony of a former cellmate of Nordahl Lelandais, who claimed to have heard him confess to having killed and raped the child. The former dog handler also remains indicted for the murder of Corporal Arthur Noyer, for which a trial should be held in front of the Court of Assizes of Savoy between May 3 and May 14. Another case has also just been relaunched. Police recently exhumed the body of Thomas Rauschkolb – an 18-year-old who was found dead in 2015 – in an attempt to establish the potential implication of Nordahl Lelandais.
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