- Ophélie Bretnacher disappearance
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The case of Ophélie Bretnacher's disappearance is a complex criminal and diplomatic case between France and Hungary.
Contents
History of the disappearance
Ophélie Bretnacher, a French student, disappeared in Budapest, Hungary on December 4, 2008. She was part of the European exchange Erasmus Programme[1] She was tracked by the city video cameras part of her way after coming out from a night club, the Portside of Cuba. Her bag and her cellular phone were found on Lanchid Bridge.
Her friends and family used several methods to attempt to find her,[2][3] an official claim was opened in Hungary and was soon followed by one in France.
Politic and diplomatic consequences
An online affidavit has been signed by over 10,000 people and was sent to the French President.[4]
On January 11, 2009, several hundred people marched silently in a white march, from the Champ de Mars, near the Eiffel Tower, to seek involvement of the French State.[5]
In the French Government, Catherine Vautrin, the Vice-Président of the National Assembly recalls the disappearance of Ophélie and has asked for a French intervention[6][7][8] Following this intervention, French investigators were sent for the second time to Hungary.[9] Ophélie appears on Nicolas Sarkozy's blog.[10]
The criminal case
Her body was discovered in Csepel, in February 2009, in a backwater of the Danube. She probably drowned. The police said that death was probably the result of a suicide or accident.[11] However, homicide cannot be ruled out[12] because of the finding of an hematoma on Ophelie's body as well as many gray areas during the search.[13]
To date, no findings have been sent by Hungary such as the forensic analysis like Diatoms and the Danube search report, despite the intervention mission twice in 2009 of French investigators in Hungary and the local investigation seems not having progressed for one year.[14]
In February 2010, her family filed a new claim for murder.[15][16][17][18]
In March 2010, a judicial inquiry is opened in Paris for kidnapping, sequestration, followed by murder.[19]
Mobilization each year
One year later her friends, who were successful in raising 60 000 people on Facebook groups, from many European Nations, launched a request for the second consecutive year in order to obtain some answers.
At the end of 2010, two years after her disappearance, more than 45000 people from different countries took part to another Facebook event for Ophélie and, on December 4th, her friends announced that they will organize a new Internet mobilization[20]:
We will create an event for Ophélie, every year, until full light will be shed on her disappearance and death, until justice is done ![21]
References
- ^ (English)"Budapest police investigate the case of a missing French girl". http://www.france24.com/en/20081210-budapest-police-investigate-missing-french-girl-case-. Retrieved December 12, 2009.,
- ^ (English)"Ophélie Bretnacher missing". http://www.hirtv.hu/hirtv/?article_hid=250429. Retrieved January 13, 2010. Hír Televízió, december 2008
- ^ "Le web mobilisé pour retrouver Ophélie Bretnacher". http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/le-web-mobilise-pour-retrouver-ophelie-bretnacher_725907.html. Retrieved October 6, 2009., L'Express on December 11th, 2008
- ^ "Pétition pour une implication de l'Etat français.". http://www.mesopinions.com/Disparition-d-Ophelie---pour-une-implication-de-l-Etat-Francais-petition-petitions-bcd8d1c6c739bda856a24512aa86ba2d.html.
- ^ "Ils refusent qu'on oublie Ophélie". http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/ils-refusent-qu-on-oublie-ophelie-12-01-2009-370058.php. Retrieved december 16 th 2009., Le Parisien January 12 th 2009.
- ^ "Catherine Vautrin Questions au gouvernement 13 janvier 2009". http://www.catherine-vautrin.fr/Questions-au-gouvernement.
- ^ "Vidéo de l'intervention de Catherine Vautrin à l'Assemblée nationale". http://top-news.fr/ophelie-bretnacher-disparue-depuis-un-mois-video/.
- ^ "Disparition d'Ophélie Bretnacher le 13-15 le mag,". http://www.leblogtvnews.com/article-27355563.html.
- ^ (English)Hungarian authorities investigate possible kidnap "Hungarian authorities investigate possible kidnap". http://www.budapesttimes.hu/content/view/10673/27/ Hungarian authorities investigate possible kidnap. Retrieved january 13 th 2010.,The Budapest Times Saturday, 24 January 2009
- ^ [1] Nicolas Sarkosy ' blog
- ^ (English)"Ophélie Bretnacher mystery nears end as body recovered". http://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page/article/11/ophelie_bret/. Retrieved January 13, 2010., Caboodle.hu february 13th, 2009
- ^ "EXCLUSIF Ophélie Bretnacher l'homicide ne doit pas être écarté". http://www.estrepublicain.fr/fr/a-la-une/info/2419063-EXCLUSIF-Ophelie-Bretnacher-l-homicide-ne-doit-pas-etre-ecarte., L’Est Républicain 4 th december 2009
- ^ "Disparition d'Ophélie Bretnacher — Mort probable d'Ophélie : un hématome qui interpelle". http://www.lunion.presse.fr/index.php/cms/13/article/252032/Reims_Budapest__Disparition_d_Ophelie_., L’Union february 14 th 2009
- ^ "Disparition d'Ophélie Bretnacher — le doute n'est plus possible". http://www.lunion.presse.fr/index.php/cms/13/article/393993/., L’Union december 7 th 2009, doubt is no more possible
- ^ [2] "Justice, ces familles qui s'impliquent", Jean-Pierre Thiollet, France-Soir, february 18 th 2010
- ^ [3] Meuse:Ophélie, nouvelle plainte des parents, l'Est Républicain, 3 February 2010
- ^ [4] Ophélie Bretnacher, plainte pour meurtre, le Figaro 2 February 2010
- ^ [5] Elle, La famille relance l'enquête 2 February 2010
- ^ / 2010-03-17/fait-divers-mort-d-ophelie-bretnacher-en-hongrie-une-information-judiciaire/920/0/434593 Mort d'Ophélie Bretnacher en Hongrie, une information judiciaire, le Point March 17, 2010
- ^ [6] Il y a deux ans disparaissait Ophélie Bretnacher, L’Union du 4 décembre 2010
- ^ [7] Un coeur pour Ophélie, L’Union du 4 décembre 2010.
External links
- Official website - HELP TO FIND OPHELIE BRETNACHER Association - Update on the investigation 17/10/2009
- , With Ophelie is it Europe that was murdered
- 11/01/2009 Manifestation Film To ask more collaboration between french and hungarian police - AFP document
- Ophélie Bretnacher, pour la vérité sur ton départ si précipité - All the vidéos (en: Update on the investigation) and other articles
See also
- List of people who disappeared mysteriously
- Missing person
Categories:- Kidnappings
- Crime
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