The main suspect in the murder of Martine Escadeillas, 35 years ago, requests his release
The epilogue addresses the investigation into the murder of Martine Escadeillas, a 24-year-old secretary who disappeared in December 1986 in Ramonville, near Toulouse, and whose body has never been found. Joël Bourgeon, the main suspect, arrested in 2019 and imprisoned since, must be tried “in the fall”. But in the meantime, he has just made a new request for release on Tuesday. “The idea is that the detention maintains that the investigation is over, it is no longer essential to keep it in”, indicates Eric Mouton, his lawyer, affirming that his client is “tired by three years of”.
During this Tuesday’s hearing, by videoconference, before the investigating chamber of the Toulouse Court of Appeal, the public prosecutor’s office opposed this release, considering that there was a risk of absconding. of the suspect before his trial. The decision of the magistrates will be rendered on Tuesday, January 25.
He confessed then recanted
In this extraordinary case by the duration of the investigation by the gendarmes, the track of Joël Bourgeon, a friend of the disappeared and of his companion, had been reactivated in 2016 by a letter translated to the prosecution by an acquaintance of the disappeared.
At the time of his arrest, the suspect lived in Isère. He partially confessed while in police custody, explaining the murder by his amorous spite and without saying where he got rid of the body. But he retracted a week later and has since asserted that his confessions were dictated to him.