Nordahl Lelandais acknowledges having killed Maëlys and presents his “apologies”


On the first day of his trial, Nordahl Lelandais confessed to having “definitely killed” Maëlys, before presenting his “apologies” to the girl’s family.

Nordahl Lelandais admitted Monday at the opening of his trial before the assizes of Isère to have “definitely killed” Maëlys, before presenting his “apologies” to the girl’s family. “I want to apologize to them, I did kill Maëlys, I didn’t want to kill him, I will explain the facts during the hearing”, he said since. the box while stifling sobs.

The 38-year-old former military dog ​​handler is on trial for the murder preceded by the kidnapping and forcible confinement of this 8-year-old girl in August 2017, as well as for the sexual assaults against two of his grandchildren. cousins ​​in the same summer. Already sentenced in Chambéry in May 2021 to 20 years’ imprisonment for the murder of young soldier Arthur Noyer – a verdict he had not appealed – the suspect is expected early Monday at the city’s courthouse, where the hearing will take place. open with the drawing of lots for the jurors and the calling of witnesses.

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Confounded by the discovery of a bloodstain

From the start, four and a half years ago, this tragic news item had fascinated the general public, arousing compassion for the girl’s parents and indignation with regard to the suspect, perceived as a manipulator and for a time suspected of being a serial killer. As the trial approached, special files and reports devoted to the Lelandais affair multiplied again, one of which gave rise to an investigation for “breach of professional secrecy”. For her part, Maëlys’ mother, Jennifer De Araujo, has just published a book-story dedicated to her daughter.

The suspect, imprisoned in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier (Isère), will have to explain the circumstances which led him to kill – “involuntarily” according to him – Maëlys De Araujo during a wedding evening in Pont-de -Beauvoisin (Isère) on the night of August 26 to 27, 2017. In particular, we still do not know under what conditions the little girl got into her car. The circumstances of the child’s death also remain surrounded by gray areas. Quickly suspected despite his denials, the former soldier was finally confused by the discovery of a bloodstain in the trunk of his car. Six months after the fact, he had led the investigators to the remains of his victim, in the Chartreuse massif.

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