The investigating chamber of the Grenoble Court of Appeal rejected Thursday, November 26 a new request from the prosecution for the dismissal of Nordahl Lelandais for the possible rape of little Maëlys De Araujo, concordant sources indicated.
To read also: Maëlys affair: "It is not possible", says the brother of Nordahl Lelandais
The Grenoble prosecutor's office had not, on this aspect of the case, won its case on October 6, with its supplementary indictment filed with the investigating judges.
After adversarial debate, the magistrates had decided to place Nordahl Lelandais under the status of assisted witness, which was their only legal option since they excluded his indictment.
This time, the investigating chamber considered the referral "
inadmissible because out of time
", said the prosecution.
In another judgment also rendered this Thursday, the investigating chamber granted the request of the defense, which wanted the former 37-year-old dog handler to be subjected to a new psychiatric expertise.
Two new experts have been appointed for this purpose.
Nordahl Lelandais remains indicted for the murder and kidnapping of little Maëlys De Araujo, August 27, 2017, during a wedding evening in Pont-de-Beauvoisin (Isère).
The former dog handler is also indicted for sexual assault on three little cousins.
Finally, he is accused of the murder of Corporal Arthur Noyer, for which a trial is scheduled from May 3 to 12, 2021 before the Assize Court of Savoy.
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"
We could have avoided the death of Maëlys
": the ex-companion of Nordahl Lelandais confides
