A serial killer’s ex wife has been sentenced to life in prison for her complicity in two murders and a kidnap.
Monique Olivier, 75, was on trial in France for her part in the rape and murder of 20-year-old Joanna Parrish, from Gloucestershire, in 1990 and 18-year-old Marie-Angèle Domèce in 1988.
She was also accused of helping kidnap nine-year-old Estelle Mouzin, whose body has never been found, in 2003.
Michel Fourniret died before he could be brought to trial for the killings.
Olivier is already serving life in prison for her part in the past crimes of her former husband, who died in 2021.
She has now been handed a second life sentence, with a minimum of 20 years.
Ms Parrish’s father Roger Parrish held a moment of silence for all of Fourniret’s victims.
“We’ve waited a long time,” he said.
On Olivier’s role in the crimes, he added: “Her presence alone would’ve gained the confidence of all the victims, who would never have believed a woman could’ve been such a part of such an appalling and depraved act.”
The Parrish family lawyer, Didier Seban, said: “This is first of all a victory, a victory for the families.”
The three-week trial concerned Olivier’s part in the abduction, rape and murders of Miss Parrish and Miss Domèce, and the kidnap of Miss Mouzin.
The court was told how Olivier’s role in the murders was to reassure the victims so they would enter Fourniret’s van.
Olivier admitted her presence in Auxerre when Miss Parrish was kidnapped, imprisoned, raped and murdered.
She said the rape and murder could have been at the house in St Cyr les Colons, and not in the van.
Dubbed the “Ogre of the Ardennes”, Fourniret was jailed for life in 2008 after being convicted of the murders of seven girls and young women.
In 2018 he was given a second life sentence for an eighth murder.
In total, he confessed to 11 murders before he died – including that of Miss Parrish.
Fourniret’s victims – most of whom were raped – were aged between nine and 30. They were shot, strangled or stabbed to death.
Shortly before the jury in Paris retired to consider her role in the crimes, Olivier expressed regret and asked for forgiveness from her victims’ families.
She told the court: “I regret everything I did and I ask for forgiveness from the families of the victims, while knowing that it is unforgivable.” (BBC)
