Three months after the death of Elisa Pilarski, killed in a forest in the Aisne, the DNA analyzes will be carried out on 67 potentially incriminated dogs, the judge having only refused the estimate of the first laboratory requested because of its prohibitive cost, a have we learned Thursday, February 20, from a source familiar with the matter.
“ Contrary to what has been claimed by some media today, DNA expert reports are by no means abandoned. They will indeed be carried out. The procedure just took a little delay due to the high cost of the quote presented by the private laboratory initially requested "by the investigating judge, told AFP this source, adding that the invoice was" 200,000 euros " . “ It's taxpayer money we're talking about. The judge could not accept a quote of this level. She therefore decided to contact the other French private laboratories "able to practice this type of very specific expertise on animals, it was said. " The choice of laboratory is being made ".
Read also: Aisne: which dogs killed Elisa in the Retz forest?
Leaving for a walk on November 16 with her dog Curtis, Elisa Pilarski, 29 years old and pregnant, was found dead in the Retz forest, where a hunt was organized in parallel. According to the autopsy, the death was caused by " a hemorrhage following several bites " from one or more dogs.
To identify the responsible animal (s), genetic samples were taken from 67 dogs: the 5 American Staffordshire of Elisa Pilarski and her companion Christophe Ellul, and 62 others belonging to the Rallye la Passion association.
The lawyer of Mr. Ellul, Me Alexandre Novion, deplored this week with AFP that " we are not able to have the return of genetic analyzes, three months after the tragedy ".
Conversely, Me Caty Richard, lawyer for the mother of Elisa Pilarski, regrets " that it has already been, too much and wrongly, communicated on DNA expertise and on deadlines " especially as these DNA analyzes " do not constitute the absolute Grail ”.
Read also: Aisne: which dogs killed Elisa in the Retz forest?
“ The investigating judge is very active in this case. I call to avoid approximate communications, which then give rise to all the conspiracy hypotheses and theses that we deplore and whose first victims are the parents of Elisa, carried away despite themselves in a media whirlwind that only makes their pain even more intense , "she told AFP.
According to a judicial source contacted by AFP, the DNA tests " could confirm what now seems most plausible, namely that Ms. Pilarski was the victim of her dog Curtis ". This dog had already inflicted an " important bite " on Elisa Pilarski " in May 2019 " according to this source.