A 79-year-old woman, already serving a life sentence for a previous killing, will stand trial this week for the brutal murder of her daughter-in-law in a case that has shocked France. The defendant, identified as Monique Olivier, has been described as the country’s oldest female prisoner. The trial, set to open in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, centres on the 1987 death of her daughter-in-law, Marie-Angèle Domèce, whose body was found with 17 stab wounds in her home in Compiègne, northern France.
Olivier was convicted in 2001 of the 1981 murder of her husband’s ex-wife, but has always maintained her innocence in the earlier crime. Prosecutors say the new trial will examine whether she acted alone or with an accomplice, as fresh evidence has emerged linking her to the crime scene. The victim’s family has long called for justice, arguing that Olivier’s previous conviction should not preclude further investigation.
Olivier’s age and health have raised questions about the feasibility of a trial, but the court has ruled she is fit to stand. Her lawyer has indicated she will plead not guilty. The case has reignited debate about the treatment of elderly prisoners in France, with campaigners noting that Olivier has spent over two decades in solitary confinement.
The trial is expected to last two weeks.
