This is the first time, before an assize court, that she gives details on the kidnapping and death of Estelle Mouzin. Thursday December 14, 2023, as part of her trial for complicity in the kidnapping and murder of three young girls, Monique Olivier was heard again. This time, it was the disappearance of the 9-year-old girl, in January 2003, which was at the heart of the court’s questions. The accused began her terrible story the day after the kidnapping of Estelle Mouzin, when her husband, Michel Fourniret, asked her to come “replace it” to look after a child he had kidnapped, in the house in Ville-sur-Lumes that he inherited from his sister. The serial killer had taken the little girl there, rather than to his main house in Sart-Custinne in Belgium, “because there was Selim”, their son then aged 14 – who actually testified the day before during this trial. “I was angry when I saw this little girl. I didn’t dare talk to him right away”, first told the ex-wife of “the ogre of the Ardennes”. She claims to have “spoke a little bit” with the young victim, who “wanted to see his mother”. Monique Olivier assured her that she would see her “Soon”.
Monique Olivier “knew” that the little girl “was going to die” after being raped
The accused explains that Estelle Mouzin had “look sad” during his confinement: “It was the fear, the sadness of being far from his… She was crying, she had tears. I didn’t want to stay long. I should have delivered her. This is the question I ask myself. Why didn’t I do it.” She describes again “a sad little girl. In tears. Not very lively. Not attached. She wanted her mom. Maybe she was hoping that… As she saw a woman instead of a man, she might have thought that…” Monique Olivier claims to have “regrets, all that” about little Estelleand acknowledges having “shame” of “knowing that the family is there and that they hear the monster talking about his daughter”.
The defendant assures that she did not touch the little girl, and only took her to the toilet. But she knew, however, what awaited her at the hands of Michel Fourniret: “He wanted to get virginity. What he wanted was rape. To obtain something by force, without his consent.” And to add: “Yes yes, I knew”, when the president of the court asks her if she was aware that Estelle “was going to die”. We learn that the child was detained in “the attic”, and she didn’t have anything to eat. “I had to sit next to her”remembers Monique Olivier.
Monique Olivier claims to have seen the body of Estelle Mouzin, “in a shower curtain”
She then says that “a given moment”she went up to see what Michel Fourniret was doing in the attic. “I saw that he wrapped little Estelle’s body in a shower curtain, in plastic. Maybe he bought it from Cora. […] She was dressed. I didn’t stay. I came back down immediately.” Monique Olivier declares that her husband “strangled” the little girl, even if she has “not asked the question”. She is convinced of it because “he had already strangled other victims”notably “the victim of Floing” whom he strangled in front of her. The accused also says she saw Michel Fourniret digging a hole, “not very deep”, at ankle height, to bury Estelle’s body. It was she who brought him the shovel and the pickaxe that he used, no.not for gardening”. Then she left to keep watch.
During the investigation, Monique Olivier led investigators several times into the forest of Issancourt-et-Rumel, very close to the house in Ville-sur-Lumes. Numerous searches were carried out, without result. Estelle Mouzin’s body was never discovered. Today, Monique Olivier says to herself “unable to find” the remains of the little girl. She considers that it is very likely that Michel Fourniret moved the body in the days following the murder. “He had already moved Farida’s body [Hammiche, une autre victime, ndlr]. It’s possible he did it again. I do not know”she explained, once again affirming that she had “nothing to hide” in that case.
Sources:
– Trial of Monique Olivier: “I don’t know where the body is” of Estelle Mouzin, maintains the accused – TF1 Info
– “She wanted to see her mother”: at her trial, Monique Olivier recounts Estelle’s ordeal – France Bleu