(The lighter side of life in France is now to be found on my other blog, here.

Both of the previous wives of Michel Fourniret had been won over by a man who seemed kind and considerate, a hard worker who seduced them by his way with words and his letters to them.

Annette was his wife for four years. She said their marriage had no major problems until the time he attacked a child in his car. It was the daughter of one of Annette's employees and it spelt the end of their marriage.

She never remarried but brought up their son on her own. Fourniret seemed to take a wicked pleasure in blaming her for setting him on the path of crime because she had lost her virginity to another before they were married.

When she asked him to break his silence his hatred of her was apparent.

However,  he was much better disposed towards his second wife, Nicole. She, too had been seduced by his love letters and they married after a short courtship. But she explained that she felt she never really knew the real Fourniret. After thirteen years of marriage, when he was arrested for a series of rapes and sexual assaults, Nicole divorced him.

A police officer who tried to gain his confidence at that time was convinced that he was still in love with Nicole. 

Their children, Jean-Christophe, now 44, and Anne, 36 had never really known their father but these three people are the only ones whom Fourniret seems to care about.

When Nicole asked him to speak, he sobbed and eventually promised that he would break his silence. But he said before saying anything in public he would have to try to gather his thoughts together.

We shall see if he keeps his promise.