False pedophilia accuastions rock French courts

[dArKeR]

AP , PARIS
Saturday, May 22, 2004,Page 6

The French judicial system was gripped with soul-searching after an unemployed mother told a small town court she had made up accusations of pedophilia that shattered the lives of 13 adult defendants -- some of whom were jailed for up to three years.

Many French newspapers bumped down major news about Iraq or the Middle East on Thursday to lead with reports of fabricated tales by Myriam Delay, a defendant who stunned a courtroom in northern Outreau two days earlier by saying she lied by accusing 13 of the 17 adults on trial.

"The Outrage of Outreau," read the banner headline of Liberation daily.

The trial, which is continuing despite Delay's admissions, began on May 4 on allegations that 18 adults -- including a priest and a baker -- had carried out group rapes of children in an Outreau housing project between 1995 and 2000.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/05/22/2003156507

[DemBones DemBones]

1. Sounds like another MacMartin preschool case.

The article indicates that the questioning of children is an issue here, suggesting that investigators encouraged the children to say things that weren't true, by asking leading questions, etc.

This is such a serious issue that police departments must learn how to question children properly. Those guilty of assaults on children must be punished, but those falsely accused must be cleared as well. Just being accused can ruin a person's life and that is most unjust.

[7th_Sephiroth]

2. Myriam Delay

any relation to Tom Delay?

[rumguy]

3. another witch hunt