Summary

In the French trial, Stéphane's mother is the first to testify. In 2001, when the Swiss investigators came with a warrant, Mireille said that she never saw her son carry art into the attic. Then, in 2002, she admitted to destroying a large number of the art he had stolen and kept in the attic. Now, in 2005, she claims all those statements were made under duress, and that she did not harm the art, or throw any of it away. Mireille says she has never seen any oil paintings in Stéphane's room, but minutes later she slips up, saying that she felt upset whenever she went into the attic, seeing all his stolen work - two contradictory statements. Her testimony is confusing and illogical, but she is very clear about one thing: she despises Stéphane.

The French prosecution points out that in...