Le Figaro: This is the first time that justice has “consolidated” so many cold cases into a single entity. After two months of work, what characteristics emerge?
Pascal Prache:
It is difficult, at this stage, to draw generalities, if only because we are currently evaluating around a hundred files out of the 240 initially listed by the Chancellery.
But the first referrals show that two thirds are female victims, adults or minors.
Over the course of the development of our doctrine, we also come to make minority one of the criteria for referral to the pole, because, without being in the majority, we have many cases concerning minors or very young adults.
For the moment, on the other hand, we do not see any division between cities and countryside being imposed.
The feedback depends on the dynamism of the courts, lawyers, victims' associations and investigation services.
Thus we welcome that the
Overseas particularly plays the game, since we have received several cases from the courts of Papeete and Guadeloupe.
Finally, for the moment we are rather on murders.
The potential turnover given by the police alone is already close to a hundred, what do you deduce from this for the organization of your division?
We believe that there is a good chance that we will exceed the 240 cases initially listed and which could come from the pole.
This does not mean that all jurisdictions should divest themselves of their cases when they are able to elucidate them, as proved last week by the Grenoble prosecutor's office with the resolution of the Bonfanti case.
But, of course, this massification of files will eventually raise the question of the means at our disposal, particularly at the prosecution.
As of September 1, there will be three investigating magistrates.
At the prosecution, developments must be anticipated: we certainly currently have an assistant prosecutor and a vice-prosecutor entirely assigned to the pole and we have obtained an additional prosecutor and an assistant lawyer.
But,
while the pole is intended to increase in power, it must be remembered that our task will not be limited to the identification of cases, to their follow-up in the preliminary investigation, but that we will then have to lead to their settlement and finally to hear them .
It's a long-term job that you have to keep.
Especially since our other major imperative is to take care of and listen to the families of victims who are waiting immensely, and whom we cannot disappoint.
Cold cases arouse great media interest, in this context, what is your priority?
We approach this work with humility.
Our jurisdictional colleagues went to the end of what was often possible to do.
Also our logic is that of the added value of the pole.
It is out of the question to create legal uncertainty while the courts are still working on a certain number of cases, or to generate concern in the families of victims who may wish that their case not be disoriented far from home. .
Each file is examined
in concrete
.
Our first framework is that of the law of December 22, 2021 and the decree of February 25, 2022. But we are also starting to create our own doctrine because the framework of these texts is very broad.
We have excluded a number of referral criteria, such as settling scores.
In the same way, when indictments have been pronounced, or when there are particularly suspicious people but on the run, the pole does not seize.
On the other hand, we can seize the initiative of a criminal course without the facts being imputed.
The seriousness of the cases, the minority of victims, the context and the circumstances such as acts of barbarity or torture or the fact that there are several victims simultaneously are criteria for referrals.
At last,
the international or European dimension is necessarily a factor of complexity that it is up to us to deal with.
We are in contact with Eurojust to strengthen our cooperation and create a European criminal memory.
