Jury of One (Verdict)

Madam.

- I am the mother of André Lamy. - I don't care, madam.

Yes, I know, but I have to speak with you. You must listen to me.

No, madam.

Please, I want to talk to you about my son.

He is the one you will judge. His whole life is in your hands.

Your visit is inappropriate, madam.

My visit may be inappropriate, but if I don't explain who

my son is, you will take him for a petty swindler.

But that is not the case at all. He did not grow up

in cafés, and he has never stolen a car.

He studied with the Jesuits for seven years.

Put away your umbrella.

- Who was that? - Nobody.

- Have you already had your injection? - Of course.

What do you mean, nobody?

A woman who took the wrong floor.

- Are you alright? - Yes, it's going...

I heard you talking. You're talking nonsense.

She was the mother of the man who killed that young girl.

THE VERDICT Subtitles by BuStEl, 2025.

Accused, stand up!

You are accused of having, on the night of 14 to 15 February 1973

raped and murdered Miss Annie Chartier.

According to articles 296, 297, 302, 315 and 332 of the Criminal Code,

you face the death penalty.

I will set out how the facts, according to the charges, unfolded.

You left the tennis club building at 22:00 with Annie Chartier.

You got into a car, a white car. You persuaded her to go to your house.

There you attempted to rape her; She resisted and you almost strangled her.

The bruises on her neck show that there was physical contact.

And those were actions between the victim and the perpetrator; That is certain.

Therefore you are accused of rape.

No.

Then one of your neighbors heard screaming.

To silence Annie Chartier, you knocked her unconscious.

No.

You were afraid she would talk or report you.

So you decided to eliminate her.

That makes it premeditated, and that can carry the death penalty.

You took her to the car and looked for a deserted place.

You passed the Rhône, where you thought you would find what you were looking for.

You got out, carried your victim and threw her into the water.

No.

She was still alive, the coroner is certain.

Unfortunately for you someone saw you. These are the facts, according to the prosecution.

Sit down!

Mr President, you have very clearly

presented the case, or rather embellished the accusation.

- Mr President... - I have embellished nothing.

The prosecution's case is based

on testimonies that are not at all romantic.

Whatever words you want to use, the following is conclusive:

The police found no traces of blood in André Léonie's car or apartment.

No fingerprints of the victim, not even the slightest print.

The accused had time to make them disappear.

He had four days between the death of the

victim and the search of the defendant's home.

The prosecution has not even any proof that the victim

entered the defendant's apartment.

Moreover, I am not like you, Mr Advocate General.

I can hardly imagine that Annie Chartier agreed to

take home a boy she had only known for two hours.

Age and especially her good upbringing,

It is not for you to defend Annie Char tier's reputation.

I will not allow you to try to acquit the defendant

by pointing to the good upbringing of his victim.

I only meant to say that the lack of evidence must not prejudice the defendant.

Please do not play word games; Some

testimonies carry more weight than physical evidence.

We shall see.

Mr President, given the nature of this case and the

age of the victim, I request, out of courtesy,

and out of respect for the family's grief,

that the hearing be held in closed session.

- Any objection? - None.

No objection, Mr President.

Clear the courtroom.

Journalists may stay, but be careful, no shocking details.

Mrs Léonie may also remain seated, she has the right to do so.

The presiding judge continues the questioning of the defendant with his

usual strictness, which he exercises for the last time.

The President steps down at the end of this session.

You were in first class when you were expelled from school. Why?

- An argument with a supervisor. - For what reason?

In fact, you nearly half killed him.

You hit his head against the dormitory wall until he fainted.

- He did not die from it. - No, but he was lucky.

And what was the reason for this scandal?

A personal reason.

Yes, it must be admitted that your violence

is linked to that of your father, Joseph Léonie.

Because before he was the shady trafficker

and became the leader of a gang of gangsters,

and the criminal wanted by all the police,

Joseph Léonie, your father, was originally a violent youth.

- How old were you when your father died? - Eight years old? Not even eight years old.

And what exactly do you know about him?

Every year I spent two weeks with my mother at my father's parents,

in a small village near Corte.

His photo hung above the gun in the kitchen.

Under the photo was a newspaper article with the text:

the title reads: Joseph Leoni, victim of an ambush,

victim of a major ambush.

Has your mother never spoken about this taboo subject?

No.

She never told you that he was handed over to the police

during that ambush.

And that your father, before in Marseille

was shot, had killed a police sergeant.

Did the investigating judge speak with your father?

- Yes. - Don't believe that for a second.

If your father had not been shot by the police and had to appear in court,

he would have faced the same risk as you today.

We are not judging his father.

No, but it is normal, even necessary, that

jurors know who they are dealing with.

Bring the first witness.

Inspector who led the investigation.

I wasn't allowed in, even though I'm the godfather.

Luckily you're free, right?

- Where are you going? - To make a phone call.

- Who are you going to call? - What is this now? Stay here.

No nonsense, alright?

Madam, why are you already leaving?

If you heard the presiding judge, you understand why I'm leaving.

What did he say then?

One does not speak like that about a father, his son and their rights.

Please let me pass.

Hello?

Yes?

I am waiting for you at the entrance of the bridge.

Can you state whether the victim had sexual intercourse shortly before her death?

Absolutely.

- What signs of violence did you see? - Some bruises on the neck.

As if she had been strangled.

As if someone had tried to strangle her.

But the coma that preceded the victim,

was caused by something else: A skull fracture.

And when the victim was thrown into the water, was she already dead then?

No. She was still breathing.

I found water in the lungs.

No questions?

Sir?

Do you have questions?

The circumstances in which Annie Chartier died do not interest us.

We have nothing to do with this painful case.

Thank you, doctor.

I want to tell the victim's parents directly that

the jury had to hear this testimony, however painful it may be.

We are adjourned for today.

Madam, why are you already leaving?

If you heard the presiding judge, you understand why I am leaving.

- What did he say then? - One does not speak like that about your son.

Let me pass now, let me pass.

The defendant's father, Joseph Léoni, a gangster from.

Marseille, was in the news a little over ten years ago.

Joseph Léoni. The crimes of this man are being discussed again.

- What is this now? - Nothing.

But it's strange.

It's me.

Nicole. Where are you?

The nobility of love is for you, for every number you choose.

The first.

The first third.

Second.

First.

Good evening. Did you see my wife go out?

Yes. I also saw a man come down, together with the cleaner.

- I even saw him go back upstairs. - What time was that?

Earlier today, sir.

- When was that? - About two and a half hours ago.

- And after that you didn't see him again? - No. But if I can be of further help.

No thank you, that's enough.

The results of two series are: Noblet 848, 140.

The presiding judge?

- Yes? - We have kidnapped your wife.

What do you mean?

Who are you?

Listen. Your wife is with me. If you go to the police, I will kill her.

You will do the following...

Central police headquarters.

Commissioner Broussard, for the presiding judge. Please.

The commissioner is not here. Can he call you back?

Yes, tonight, at any time. Thank you.

Yes, I have kidnapped your wife.

I will return her if you do the same with my son

do it. If you don't, you will never see her alive again.

You are crazy.

Do you know what you're doing? This is madness. What are you asking of me?

My son is being taken from me and your wife dies.

Think about it... you know very well that this does not depend on me.

- You know that yourself too. - Stop it.

Return my wife immediately, or I will have you arrested.

If you bring the police between us, I warn

I at the slightest move. Your wife is dead.

- And what do you gain from that? - Yes, I know that.

- And you accept the risk. - I accept it.

And who says that I care that my wife dies.

- Your wife will be happy to hear that. - I will come along...