In the third week of his trial Fourniret faces an inquiry into the attempted rape of a young girl in a 'poodle parlour' in Belgium.

He entered her shop in the late afternoon wearing a hooded jacket and armed with a stolen gun. He claimed the police were looking for him because he had shot an officer, and after making sure the girl was alone he made her lie on the floor.

He then had to let her get up again to give him the keys to the shop. He locked the door, pulled down the blinds and switched off the lights, still threatening her with the gun.

He tied her hands behind her back with a scarf after first attempting to put handcuffs on her. Then he took her through to the room behind the shop where he made her undress and attampted to rape her.

She fought off her aggressor and convinced him she was pregnant. According to her, Fourniret hit her head against the shower and threatened her with a knife pointed at her stomach before fleeing with her purse containing money and two bank cards. He made her tell him the codes but wasn't able to draw out any money when he later tried to use cash dispensers at Jambes and Namur.

Founiret confessed in July 2004, admitting that the crime was premeditated. However, he denies hitting the girl or threatening her with a knife.

Will he speak today or continue to annoy the court with his obstinate silence?

For the lighter side of life chez-nous please see my other blog.