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Murder victim Gregory Villemin AP Photo

Court orders DNA tests in cold case of murdered little boy

Four-year-old Gregory Villemin was found tied up and drowned in a river in France in 1984 in one of the nation’s most notorious post-war murder mysteries.

FRENCH AUTHORITIES HAVE today ordered new DNA tests in the hope of finding fresh evidence in the 28-year-old murder of a little boy that remains one of the country’s deepest unsolved mysteries.

The killing of four-year-old Gregory Villemin – who was found tied up and drowned in the Vologne river in eastern France in October 1984 – sparked a long and convoluted legal saga that transfixed France for years.

Dijon prosecutor general Jean-Marie Beney said a court had agreed to a request from Gregory’s parents – Christine and Jean-Marie Villemin – for new DNA tests to be conducted on the boy’s clothing and shoes.

“The court granted the parents’ request, supported by the public prosecutor, regarding complementary tests to search for DNA on (Gregory’s) clothing” and his shoes, Beney told a press conference.

“The tests will be launched fairly quickly, in the coming weeks,” he said, adding the tests were “fairly long and complicated” and would probably involve laser microdissection.

The family’s lawyer Thierry Moser said Gregory’s parents were “very satisfied” with the decision and hoping new forensic techniques would finally shed light on the case.

“We are reasonably hopeful, we believe there is still a serious chance” of solving the mystery, he told AFP, adding that new techniques would allow searching for “minute traces” of DNA on the clothing.

The death of “Little Gregory,” as he became known, led to one of France’s most notorious post-war murder mysteries, as police sought to untangle a web of family hatreds and local jealousies.

A day after Gregory’s body was found, a letter arrived at the home of the child’s parents – who had been receiving anonymous hate mail since 1981 – claiming responsibility for the murder and calling it “revenge”.

Bernard Laroche, a cousin of the child’s father, was charged with the murder a month after the boy’s death, based on evidence given by a teenage sister-in-law.

He was released after she withdrew her claims, only to be shot dead in March 1985 by Jean-Marie Villemin, who spent two and a half years in prison for the crime.

Christine Villemin was herself charged with the murder in 1985. But she was finally cleared eight years later and all charges against her dropped.

The case was wrapped up in 2001 after failing to identify either Gregory’s murderer or the sender of the letters, but reopened in 2010 to take advantage of new forensic techniques.

- © AFP, 2012

Body found: Vologne River at Docelles
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  • Body found: Vologne River at Docelles

  • Gregory Villemin's grave in 1985

  • Bernard Laroche

  • Jean Marie Villemin

  • Christine Villemin

All photos by AP

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    Mute John Bransfield
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    Jul 8th 2014, 5:45 PM

    The headline makes it sound like some horrible,horrible porno…

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    Mute Sandra Turner
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    Jul 8th 2014, 7:12 PM

    Alan shatter could write the script

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    Mute HomoHabilis1980
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    Jul 8th 2014, 7:21 PM

    Haha and the have the porno names to boot…..bellenda and joan the moan star in……….

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Jul 8th 2014, 7:24 PM

    ……”Ordinary people doing it in the cabinet”

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    Mute Sandra Turner
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    Jul 8th 2014, 9:16 PM

    This stuff writes itself

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Jul 8th 2014, 5:45 PM

    In fairness they are milking this for every last piece of news coverage.

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    Mute TOP CAT
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    Jul 8th 2014, 5:47 PM

    Joan and Enda having a good old fashion sleep over…
    Can just pucture the two of them having a pillow fight..

    Im on top Enda…

    I never liked the bottom bunk…

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    Mute cosmological
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    Jul 8th 2014, 5:49 PM

    Unconscious coupling.

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    Mute RonanM
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    Jul 8th 2014, 5:43 PM

    The picture, just why?

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    Mute Mitch
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    Jul 8th 2014, 5:52 PM

    Will it make a difference who they pick to do what department work we are all sick of it at this stage

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Jul 8th 2014, 5:45 PM

    UGH!

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    Mute B
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    Jul 8th 2014, 5:54 PM

    *Groan Burton

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    Mute Andrew McMahony
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    Jul 8th 2014, 6:14 PM

    I’d say Edna Kenny “the mute Taoiseach” is only delighted to have a woman to f##k up the ass instead of pig face Gilmore. I don’t know which would be worse.

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    Mute Dervy O' S
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    Jul 8th 2014, 6:38 PM

    Bet you anything they roide!!!

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    Mute John Flood
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    Jul 8th 2014, 6:13 PM

    Democracy? Me are!

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jul 8th 2014, 6:52 PM

    He was eyeing up Angela Merkel last weekend…….

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    Mute KentuckyWindage
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    Jul 8th 2014, 6:14 PM

    Joan Burton is a fine thing!!

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    Mute Dervy O' S
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    Jul 8th 2014, 6:38 PM

    Praying this is sarcasm :/

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    Mute KentuckyWindage
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    Jul 8th 2014, 6:42 PM

    Your prayers are answered.

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    Mute Willy Moon
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    Jul 8th 2014, 6:23 PM

    Your sick

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    Mute Chroi Iosa
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    Jul 9th 2014, 12:41 PM

    €nda Kenny and Moan Burton…..

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