Dickon Hooper
BBC West

in a previous interview Olivier confessed to Belgian investigators that she knew more about Marie-Angele Domece. She said Fourniret wanted her present when he kidnapped her to "reassure her".

"One day he put me in the van, without me knowing what I was going to do," said Olivier.

"We found the young girl on the way to Auxerre. I knew what would happen. If he had asked me to come, it was because my presence would reassure the girl. It was an obsession."

Olivier said Fourniret raped and killed Ms Domece.

Steve Knibbs
BBC West

A Belgian investigator has been telling the court about how Monique Olivier and Michel Fourniret were brought to justice after one of his victims escaped from his van and went to the police in 2003.

The couple were living in Belgium at the time and later extradited to France. In police interviews Fourniret originally denied killing Joanna Parrish, although he did finally confess in 2018.

Monique Olivier told investigators that in May 1990 they’d gone to Auxerre, near to where they were living at the time, and saw Joanna in the city centre near the bus station.

She said she stayed in the van and Fourniret persuaded Joanna to get in the back.

After driving away for a few kilometres Fourniret got into the back of the van and raped and killed Joanna. He then put her body in the River Yonne where she was found the next day.

Dickon Hooper
BBC West

Monique Olivier was asked about another victim, Marie-Angele Domece, who died in 2005.

She said Fourniret had mentioned a "beautiful subject" one day, who was blonde and 18 or 19 years of age.

She said he was interested in her, but she did not witness anything.

"It was clear he wanted to make her one of his victims, but the fact he she lived in the village increased the risk as he had just go out of prison for a similar crime," said Olivier.

Image source, Family photo

Steve Knibbs
BBC West

As this evidence is read to the court, the investigator is stood at a lecturn in the middle of the courtroom facing the long bench where the judges sit alongside the jury.

Many of the jury are making notes as are members of Estelle Mouzin's family. Monique Olivier is sat quietly listening.

Another unusual feature for us used to reporting UK courts is that the court artists here in France are sat in the court doing their sketches.

Some are sat below the front bench. In the UK the artist has to make notes and then leave the courtroom to draw.

Dickon Hooper
BBC West

Fourniret admitted kidnapping and murder - which he was tried for in 2008.

Olivier was interviewed - with psychologists present - at various points in this process. She said at the time "in the days when Estelle Mouzin disappeared, Fourniret said to me, 'that one, it wasn't me' in an amused tone".

It's important to understand how central and important Estelle Mouzin is France: she was the child who went missing and never came home. Her father is very vocal, and well known.

Fourniret was extradited to France over Christmas 2005.

Dickon Hooper
BBC West

The Belgians acknowledge that back in 2003 they didn't consider Joanna Parrish - or some of the women and children who would later be known as Fourniret's other victims.

It's clear from what we're hearing that the Belgians took this case very seriously, and knew Fourniret was a dangerous man.

They clearly put a lot of resources into the investigation, including collaborating with the French and specialist investigators.

The cooperation with the French started in July 2003 and continued until Fourniret and Monique Olivier were extradited.

Dickon Hooper
BBC West

Court has started for the day.

We're hearing how the Belgian police started the long process of bringing Michel Fourniret to justice.

He had tried to kidnap a 13-year-old girl, who had escaped earlier that day.

Belgian authorities suspected from the start that Fourniret had other victims.

Steve Knibbs
BBC West

Good morning from the Cour d'Assise in the Nanterre region of Paris. I'm in the courtroom waiting for proceedings to start on the second day of Monique Olivier's trial.

My colleague Dickon Hooper is in the press room downstairs where a feed of the trial is happening.

Mark Leach, our camera crew, is outside the courtroom with other crews filming the comings and goings of the court. We're also doing interviews today.

As we mentioned yesterday this isn't allowed in the UK, so its an unusual way of working for us. In the court lawyers are sat in position waiting to start. There are around 40 members of the press plus members of the public. In front of me are a number of court artists.

On the front benches, labelled "Familles des Victims", sits Eric Mouzin, the father of Estelle Mouzin. She was nine years old when she was murdered by Michel Fourniret.

Her body has never been found. Next week Joanna Parrish's parents will also be in those seats. What a moment it will be for them after waiting for so long.

Dickon Hooper
BBC West

Day two of the Monique Olivier trial and we're expecting the Belgian authorities in court today, answering questions about events in 2003.

Michel Fourniret had been arrested after trying to abduct a 13-year-old girl. She'd escaped and sought help. Police then tracked the licence plate of the van she was abducted in.

Belgian prosecutors, who brought Fourniret and Monique Olivier to justice in 2008, will be questioned.

For Joanna Parrish's parents, questions remain over why her case was not included in this earlier trial. They travelled out to see the process. Now, 15 years later, they're coming back.

Steve Knibbs
BBC West

That's where we'll finish our live coverage today.

We'll have a summary on BBC Points West tonight and on BBC Radio Gloucestershire in the morning.

There will be more from the hearing when it restarts on Wednesday on this page.

Dickon Hooper
BBC West

The lawyer continues: "You preferred your own fear to the lives of the victims?"

"You were there, every time," he added.

"I should've done it (stopped it) earlier," responds Monique Olivier.

This is a very powerful exchange to watch. Seban is crystal clear about Monique Olivier's participation and alleged guilt.

She is equally clear that the overriding motivation for her actions was her fear of Michel Fourniret and that she is now regretful.

Seban has finished his questioning.

Dickon Hooper
BBC West

This is less forensic questioning from Monsieur Seban - it is more a series of statements designed to show Monique Olivier knew what was going on.

He says: "You took part in the kidnappings; you were there when Michel Fourniret (sexually assaulted) girls."

"You did a lot for a woman who was afraid and under his control, you did a lot. You participated in the murder of (one of his victims)."

She responds: "It was Michel Fourniret who made me do it."

The lawyer is letting his statements hang... the silence expands, with Monique Olivier mumbling in response.

It's hard to make out sometimes what she is saying.

Dickon Hooper
BBC West

Didier Seban, the lawyer for Joanna Parrish's family, is now asking questions of Monique Olivier.

He is laying out how she was present at kidnappings and rape and what she did, for example, giving sedatives and moving bodies.

He also specifies how she allegedly gained the victim's trust, giving examples of her using false names.

Dickon Hooper
BBC West

The tension in the press room has gone up.

Monique Olivier faces a very different kind of questioning now; probing and unyielding.

She tells lawyers that Fourniret "used the pretext of English lessons to get young women".

Joanna Parrish's name has come up - a nod to what we know about her offering English lessons and then disappearing.

The questioning is very detailed and she often takes time to reply.

She's sitting down now, moving into her third hour of questioning.

Dickon Hooper
BBC West

Monique Olivier now faces questions from lawyers representing civil parties in the trial, including Joanna Parrish's parents.

The first lawyer is effectively accusing her of lying, saying her father was not as bad as she makes out.

She says the defendant always blames the men in her life for what happens to her.

"It was Michel Fourniret who decided everything. He used me," she responds, adding: "He wasn't the only one."

Dickon Hooper
BBC West

Monique Olivier is asked how it feels to be judged for a third time in a court.

"I'm afraid. To be alone like this. I am the only one on trial," she says.

Asked why she consented to be filmed, the defendants replies: "Why not?"

"If they didn't film me here, they would film me everywhere. The journalists are everywhere."

Dickon Hooper
BBC West

According to reports, Monique Olivier is a model prisoner who asked to be placed in isolation.

The court hears she has been attacked by other prisoners and it is said she wants to forget herself in prison.

Dickon Hooper
BBC West

When asked by the judge why she did not report her husband to the police, Monique Olivier answers: "I should have done that".

She tells the court she left Fourniret in 2002, but he "came looking" for her and found her after two days.

She says he then "took me to the police station to explain myself".

"I tried another time" she says, adding: "My dad refused to take me in."

Dickon Hooper
BBC West

The first crime the pair committed together was the murder of 17-year-old Isabelle Laville in 1987.

"I was condemned for that, yes," answers Monique Olivier.

"I can't explain (why I did this to Laville). It's not that I don't want to."

The judge reads out a previous statement in which the defendant said she would let Fourniret "have his pleasure", even if that meant sacrificing children.

"I regret saying all that," she says.

Michel Fourniret clearly had an obsession with virginity.

He made Monique Olivier style her hair and dress in the way she did when she lost her virginity.

She says this obsession was there from the start.