Already sentenced to 25 years in prison for attempted poisoning of a pensioner, Olivier Cappelaere is now accused of murder, still by poison, of a nonagenarian, a crime marked by "
greed
" for which the prosecution requested the perpetuity Friday, May 27 in Nice.
Read alsoThe worrying explosion of attempted homicides
Jacqueline Imbert, 92, a widow from Cannet (Alpes-Maritimes), had become "
his godmother of the heart
", as the 52-year-old accused, currently in detention, explained during his trial before the court of seated in Nice.
But it is he who is accused of having poisoned her in 2014, causing her death with atropine, a powerful poison contained in certain eye drops.
"
Jacqueline Imbert died for nothing, only for the greed and venality of the one who killed her
", insisted the Advocate General, Christophe Raffin, before claiming "
life imprisonment with a sentence of 22-year security
” against the former entrepreneur, who was in financial difficulty.
premeditation
On the death of Jacqueline Imbert, Olivier Cappelaere had become her universal legatee and had inherited 600,000 euros, including life insurance.
But the accused would not in fact be the first act of this type.
A few months ago, Olivier Cappelaere had already been sentenced to 25 years in prison, on appeal, for an attempted poisoning of another retiree, after being sentenced to 20 years at first instance, in 2019. She had been drinking mineral water in which the accused admitted having diluted his dog's eye drops.
Read alsoA man indicted after the murder of a nonagenarian near Nantes
Regarding Jacqueline Imbert, "
he planned everything, the premeditation for me is there, there is no doubt
", pleaded Friday morning Me Ariane Kabsch, lawyer for the civil parties, referring to the victim, a woman who "
had character
” and “
no suicidal desires
”.
As for the accused, he would have in fact “
bewitched his spirit
”: “
The elderly are so afraid of death and loneliness that they will grab the pole that is offered to them, but they are wrong and Jacqueline l 'learned the hard way
,' continued the lawyer.
After the defense argument, the verdict is expected during the day.
