The “show trial” of a British journalist accused of the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier begins today in Paris.
If found guilty in his absence of the Cork killing, Ian Bailey could face up to 30 years in prison.
However, whether the French authorities could extradite him to the country to serve a sentence is unclear.
There is uncertainty over how many of the 30 Irish witnesses called will provide evidence to the trial, which is taking place at the Cour d’assises.
Bailey, 62, who has lived outside Schull in West Cork for nearly three decades, has always maintained his innocence and refuses to attend the hearings.
His solicitor, Cork-based Frank Buttimer, has branded the proceedings a “show trial”.
It will not include a jury but evidence will be given before a panel of three judges, who could reach a verdict by the end of this week.
The accused’s French lawyer Dominique Tricaud will not be attending on behalf of the journalist and will therefore not be mounting a defence.
And as Bailey is not a party to the case, he has not had access to the prosecution file. Last week, Mr Tricaud deemed the trial of his client “unfair”.
He said Bailey could not afford to put up a defence as this would involve paying for the travel and hotel expenses of any witnesses he might call. Mr Tricaud told the Sunday Business Post: “He is absolutely not able to do that.”
In the past 11 years, French authorities have twice sought to extradite Bailey to question him in relation to their investigations but the courts here have refused to surrender him on both occasions.
Ms Toscan du Plantier, a film-maker and mother, was bludgeoned to death in her nightclothes outside her holiday home in Toormore, Schull, West Cork, in December 1996 when she was 39.
No one has ever been charged with her murder. Last week, her heartbroken son called on Irish witnesses – including former neighbours and Bailey’s partner Jules Thomas – to give evidence.
Pierre-Louis Baudey-Vignaud pleaded passionately for justice.
He said he was not searching for a victory but for “the truth”.
Mr Baudey-Vignaud added: “My mother Sophie is not a ghost, she is the victim of human cruelty and violence which has no place here.”
He spoke as family and friends of his mother gathered in Goleen, West Cork, last Sunday for a memorial mass.
Mr Baudey-Vignaud returns to the area every year to honour his mother.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has previously described the Garda investigation into the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier as “thoroughly flawed and prejudiced” against Bailey.
The former journalist has said he fears he could be declared guilty as a result of the trial.
In an interview with Virgin Media News in February, he added: “I know that I had nothing to do with this and I’m going to finish up a convicted murderer.”
