Counter Investigation (2007) - full transcript

Look at me!

Shut up!

Bastards!

What do you want? What have I done?

Damn! Unbelievable.

Who are you? What do you want?

Taken in for questioning,

June 21, 2003 at 6:05.

Let's go.

Emily!

Phone

Emily!

You're still home?

I am having breakfast.

At eleven o'clock?

I've been ready for 30 minutes.

Your daughter is making herself beautiful.

- Should I wait for you?

No, I need to be in the operating room

in a quarter of an hour.

We are going to the pond

and then we'll get something to eat.

I'll call you

when I've finished.

Switch on your mobile.

Yes, boss. Love you.

Was that mum?

Yes.

Is she joining us?

No. She's busy.

We are going biking, not watching

a Spice Girls concert.

This is a sports outfit.

A sports outfit?

That's right.

And the Spice Girls broke up a long time ago.

They broke up?

Nobody tells me anything.

You're in custody.

Sign bottom left.

You have the right to a phone call.

Mobile

Yes?

Richard, it's me.

Yes, Gino.

I've been arrested.

What for?

Dope.

How much?

Bugger all - 200 grams.

200 grams, bugger all?

Where are you?

With the drug squad.

-Shit!

Put me on to my colleague.

He is asking for you.

Hi.

Yes, he told me.

I'm on my way.

Yes ...

I have to go. I'm sorry.

You promised to be with me.

It's my job, honey.

It's always the same!

You always lie!

Emily!

I won't be long. One hour tops.

You say one hour ...

... but it will be

three hours!

Listen, it's 11:20.

I'll be back at one o'clock.

Go on, Emily ...

Put on a DVD. We rented

the latest Tom Cruise with Mom.

Well?

Don't you like Tom Cruise?

No!

He won't be happy when I tell him.

You don't even know him.

Yes I do.

I had him in custody last week.

You'll say anything!

It's true!

I'll tell you what he is like.

Brown hair, blue eyes, both of them,

white teeth.

Tall like, well ... that.

He is better looking than you.

That's not true!

Is so!

It's not true.

Yes it is!

Well, if you say so ...

I'll be quick, I promise.

It's not true about Tom Cruise?

What?

I'm better looking.

My dad left me on my own again.

We can meet up, if you like.

I don't know. He'll be back soon.

Go on.

Your release from custody.

We're even.

Right!

You need to give them something.

Something similar.

You're tough!

Would you prefer to deal

with the Public Prosecutor?

Sign!

Rustling

Emily?

Emily, is that you?

I owe you one.

One more.

Where are you with your bank robbers?

Soon. They're ready to roll.

Can I buy you a drink?

No, I don't have time - my kid is waiting for me.

Yes. Kids, you have to make the most of them.

They grow up fast.

I'd make more of them

if you respected my weekends.

I'll call you.

Yes.

Emily?

Emily?

She's gone.

I don't know.

She made a little scene.

She must be

with the little prick.

Yes, I see evil everywhere.

I'll call you when I find her.

Love you.

Mobile phone rings

Yes?

Richard, it's Stephen.

I was going to call you.

Gino is breaking my balls.

He's still dealing.

Listen, it's not that.

What?

Stephen to JP.

Richard is on his way. I'll accompany him.

Where is it?

Follow me.

Shouts

Let me go!

No, stop!

Come on!

Sobs

...

I beg you.

Don't go there.

No! No! No!

Sad music

...

Richard ...

I have to ask

you some questions.

In this type of case,

you have to move quickly.

Richard ...

Mr. Director-...

Good morning, Arnalde.

Sir.

Hi, Josse.

Results of the autopsy?

Raped and beaten to death with a stone.

Do we have anything? DNA?

Negative.

There are traces of lubricant.

From the condoms.

Have we interrogated the boy?

He was with her, but

after an argument, she left.

He went to a friend.

We checked.

How many men do we have

down there?

2 groups. 20 guys.

Is that enough?

Put 10 more cops onto it.

I want this bastard!

Slow music

...

Can we cover the casket?

...

Forgive me, my love.

Forgive me.

Sleep, baby.

Sobs

...

Police Sirens

...

The Police

have arrested a suspect ...

... In the murder of

little Emily Malinowski.

About 30 years old, the man is

being questioned by the crime squad.

His identity,

for now, has not been divulged.

So, has he confessed?

No.

He continues to deny it.

He says he was there,

but is not involved.

And the forensic identification?

Complete unknown.

We sent his fingerprints for analysis.

Waiting for the results.

Without DNA

we need a confession.

Leave me alone with him

and you'll have it.

Come on!

He'd claim that the confession was illegally

obtained. We have to do this right.

Am I making myself clear?

Stop it, Richard!

Let me go!

Who let him in?

Calm down!

Let me go!

Calm down!

I'll take him home.

I want him to stay there

until the other is brought to justice.

Police Sirens

...

Daniel Eckmann initially denied involvement,

but at the end of his custody, ..

.. he confessed and gave details

that only the killer would have known.

Therefore

the Crime Squad ..

... believes

that he should be charged.

Charlene Kroth,

Police HQ.

One year later.

Silence in court.

Counsellor, if I understand correctly, ...

... The accused has revoked

the confession he made ..

.. June 30, 2003.

Exactly, your Honor.

According to my client,

these confessions, ...

... Were extorted from him.

But these confessions were repeated to the

investigating judge at the reenactment.

An investigation carried out with the sole purpose

of resulting in a criminal charge ..

... and a perfunctory reenactment ...

... based on a methodology

that I have already denounced.

And, to corroborate our doubts

regarding the validity ...

... of these confessions ...

... and of the entire process ...

... I will submit

for your consideration ...

... the fact that, despite forensic

science being to the fore, ..

... the police have been unable ...

... to provide irrefutable evidence.

I refer, of course, to

DNA evidence.

I will speak of the unseemly haste

with which the investigation was conducted ...

... the lack of formal evidence, ...

... all these details

which have escaped ...

... the wisdom of the

investigators.

Finally, I will speak

of these investigators ..

... who are the very colleagues of

the father of the victim.

Hubbub

...

Silence in court!

I will ask you

to remember, when the time comes ..

... that doubt ...

should benefit the accused.

Thank you.

Daniel Eckmann. To the question, 'Is the accused

guilty of the murder of Emily Malinowski?', ...

... the answer was 'yes'

by a majority of at least 8 votes.

To the question, 'are there

any extenuating circumstances?'

The answer is 'no'.

The Court and the jury sentence

you to 30 years imprisonment ...

... with a minimum term of

22 years.

Under the law,

you have 10 days ...

... to appeal.

The court is adjourned.

Thanks, Stephen.

Give Mathilde and Gabriel my love.

Do you want me to stay

No, thanks.

Listen, I had little choice

for my farewell drink.

It has to be tomorrow.

They are expecting me in Bordeaux.

No worries.

I'll give you

my new address.

-hanks.

My dear inspector, ...

... This time, that's it.

Here I am."

VIP Section

individual cell ...

... For all the sex offenders,

the "nonces", as they are known here.

I have the time to

think about everything.

Sir, ..

... I do not know whether you

will read this letter.

Perhaps you will you destroy it,

recognizing who it comes from?

I want to tell you ...

... that, even though I cannot know the pain

of losing a child ...

... I can relate to

your suffering.

Sometimes,

a man that everyone accuses ...

... is not guilty.

I am innocent.

Don't misinterpret the purpose of this letter.

I'm not asking for a review of my case.

Justice has spoken and I suppose that

the despairing father must be satisfied.

But is the policeman satisfied?

Here, in this hole, I am

powerless to change my situation.

What interest would I have

in claiming that I am innocent?

Ask yourself, could

justice have made a mistake?

Could you live with the knowledge

that the culprit lurks nearby ...

... and may offend again?

I beg you to believe

in my compassion.

Daniel Eckmann."

Radio noise

One year later

Police Radio

It's opening.

Richard, do you copy?

Copy that.

It's the garbos.

Considered a mentally retarded pervert by

the psychiatric experts who examined him ...

Armand Salinas committed his

first child murder before he was 20.

He crossed all of France, travelling on foot or

by train, staying in shelters for the homeless.

It's him.

Since his arrest ...

... by the Bordeaux

Criminal Investigation Department ...

... he has become the record holder

of unsolved crimes.

The young victims, ...

... both boys and girls,

were selected randomly.

The discovery of the body,

which may be that ...

... of Loïc Fuller,

who disappeared in 2004, ...

... would lengthen

the list of his crimes.

I didn't do anything!

What the hell were you doing?

A love letter.

Thanks.

Aren't you going to read it?

Not right now.

Room inspection.

Among the women who write to you,

there are mothers of families.

That burns my ass!

Life is unfair.

You need a pretty face

to attract sympathy.

Even if you're a complete asshole.

Because you know you're an asshole.

Can I take a piss?

Did you hear the news

about Salinas?

Regarding the boy who disappeared

near Bordeaux last summer.

Yes, I am aware of it.

I'd like to go and check something out.

Regarding Salinas?

We're not handling the case.

I know.

I just want to check something.

Damn!

Tell me ...

... what kind of check?

A feeling, that's all.

A feeling?

I can go while

I am on holiday.

Is it my style

to get in the way of an investigation?

If you want, you can go.

But sometimes, don't forget

that I am your boss.

I'll call you when I get there.

Say hello to Stephen from me.

Everything is there.

Salinas, Albin Migie ..

... Loïc Fuller. There you go.

Ok

You have on paper

a comparitive analysis ...

... of other cases in which

he is suspected.

It will take you a year or two

to digest all this.

Knock, knock, knock

I can't stay with you.

If you need me,

you can reach me on the mobile.

The coffee machine is there.

You'll need it.

Take him into custody, advise the

prosecutor and check his identity.

We'll deal with the rest tomorrow.

Aren't you tired of

chasing after thugs?

Send the young guys after them.

The young guys are

thinking of their careers.

Only the old guys like me are still

playing cowboys and Indians.

Did you find anything interesting?

Yeah.

Must see it at my leisure.

We are going over to my place for dinner.

I won't be good company.

You think I'm going to leave

you here while I get a steak?

Mathilde is waiting for us.

Your room is ready.

What do you think?

He told me he had

a little fixer-upper!

You had girls?

You're stupid!

You should have seen the state

when we arrived!

Here you go.

Is it for me?

Yes.

Thank you, Gabriel.

It's beautiful!

Are they birds?

No, they're angels

and there, that's Emily.

We'll get your schoolbag

or you'll be late for school.

Goodbye, Richard.

Study hard.

Sorry.

We never discussed it in front of him.

It doesn't matter.

That's children for you.

I just learned that the court of appeal

has reconfirmed your sentence.

I'm incredibly sad

but not surprised.

It is rare that the justice

of men acknowledge its errors.

You must be

very disappointed and dejected.

But continue the fight.

You're not alone.

Continue to write to me.

I shall try to put as much hope

in my letters as you put in yours.

It's thanks to the confession of Salinas,

that we found the body of Loic Fuller.

He had disappeared from a campsite

where he was on holiday with his parents.

Salinas sometimes mixes

the elements of different murders.

For Loïc Fuller,

he talks about biking and a pond.

The boy was found in a field and he

was on foot when he disappeared.

This murder and the other 3

have similarities ..

... with that of Emily.

What re you trying to tell me?

Here's the best for last.

A cousin of Salinas lives

15 km from where Emily was killed.

Barking

...

Sarko, heel!

Don't move.

Inspector Malinowski.

I called you yesterday

Ah ...

This way.

They say

Armand is a monster.

He's a poor devil.

Thanks.

When he was a kid,

his father beat him ...

... With cables, fed

him dog food.

When his mother died,

he was so unhappy.

When the coffin was lowered

into the ground ...

... He jumped into the hole

in despair.

Have you considered ..

... whether your cousin

was there in June 2003?

On the phone

I didn't remember.

But afterwards,

I was reminded of something.

He was there,

I mean, during the case.

We discussed it together.

He had found work as

a laborer for the town.

One evening, I called the doctor

for his migraines.

I always keep the prescriptions.

There.

the 22nd, that's it.

Excuse me, ...

... your daughter,

when did this happen?

The day before.

The judge must interview

Salinas again.

You know what she told you

is worthless.

She needs to be

formally interviewed.

I know. I know. That's why

someone has to go.

There is also Salinas' employer

to be interviewed.

I want you to take care of it.

You're kidding!

I'm overwhelmed here!

Listen, Stephen, I feel something.

I am not wrong about this.

I'm sure.

Fine, I'll call Arcaro tomorrow

and I'll go day after tomorrow. All right?

Yes, that's fine.

We can't drag the chain.

I'll call you

as soon as I've got it.

Thanks.

The blood is a little dark.

Claire!

Wait ...

What's the blood oxygen level?

Damn!

Your blood oxygen level is 55!

What is it?

It was not in the trachea.

Here is a picture of me

like you wanted.

Don't show anyone. I would be

embarrassed if anyone saw it.

Sir,

this is my fourth letter ..."

... and still you have not

replied."

Perhaps you have decided to ignore

my correspondence?"

I respect that choice,

but that will not stop me from writing again.

Whether you accept it or not,

we are linked by an invisible chain ...

... that the death of Emily

has put between us."

Every day,

I pray for your child ...

... for your wife ...

... and for you.

Faith gives me the strength to

forgive those who locked me up ...

... and to continue to live

despite everything. "

Not working today?

I've taken a few days off.

I have some things to sort

out here.

Til tonight.

It's not true.

I screwed up in the operating room.

Caraux suspended me.

Wht didn't you tell me?

I miss her so much!

You were with your cousin,

Annette, from April to June 2003?

If she says so.

That's what she said.

This is also what was said by

the manager of Meudon road works ...

... Who employed you,

Mr. Le Floch.

You worked

from May 2 to June 30 ...

... as a laborer.

Yes, a laborer.

June 21

towards 11 o'clock in the morning ..

... you went to the landfill

to incinerate some old materials.

If that's what he said, it's true.

So you left

towards 11 o'clock?

About.

At least, I think so.

He said that the road passes

along the woods of Meudon.

If that is true,

I went into the woods.

You were driving

at a normal speed?

Yes, I respect the speed limits,

you know.

Look at this photograph.

It's little

Emily Malinowski.

You went into the woods ...

... The day she died,

at the same time.

I would like you to concentrate

on the following question.

Yes.

Mr. Salinas, ...

... Did you kill

this little girl?

No! I didn't kill her.

Did you attack her?

No! Since, since I didn't even know her, this girl!

You went into these woods?

Yes.

Did you stop for one reason or another?

What for?

To relive yourself

or to smoke a cigarette.

I don't smoke!

Mr. Salinas has told you

everything he knows.

Fine!

To conclude ...

... you saw nothing, ...

... heard nothing, did nothing?

I did not kill that child!

There were children, yes,

but that one, I did not kill her.

Rustle

Stop!

Calm down! Calm down! Police!

What were you doing?

Nothing, sir.

What's your name?

Sylvain. Sylvain what?

Sylvain Ferro.

What were you doing?

I was watching, that's all.

What?

If you really are the police

then you should know very well what.

Should know what?

Should know what?

It is a place

where couples come.

How long have you been peeping?

It is the first time.

Answer me!

One year, two years,

How long?

3 Months.

Before, I lived in the Nièvre district.

Get out of here.

Vomiting

Eckmann, ..

... until recently

it was unimaginable ...

"... that I should write you.

But things have changed.

Salinas was there

when my daughter was killed.

He denies having committed the murder.

Without Witnesses to

claim the opposite ...

... We cannot prove

he is lying.

He remains innocent

and you, guilty.

In all your correspondence,

you proclaim your innocence.

I am ready to explore

your arguments and check them.

The murderer of my daughter

must be punished.

If it is not you,

help me to prove it.

Richard Malinowski."

Female voice

- In your last letter ...

... you were in a bad mood.

Because of the photos

that I did not send?

I am really trying

to understand your lifestyle ..

... Your moods, ..

... Your depression ...

Often, I cannot.

Are you wearing

my silver cross?

There is a lot of me

in that cross. "

Christina ..

Only our love ..

allows me to endure all this.

Only the hope of holding you

in my arms keeps me holding on ...

.. When, like today,

things don't go well.

Good morning, counsellor.

Good morning, Daniel.

How are you?

It is up to you to tell me.

We're appealing for the verdict to be overturned,

but I have little hope.

I know.

I have one thing

to ask of you.

They respect

mail to the lawyer.

Is not for you

but for a woman.

Why go through me?

Your Mail

is not checked.

Of course they read everything!

They don't care about me.

What do you mean?

I tell you. they don't care about me,

counsellor.

Especially the one that makes my room.

You have to report it.

I'll take care of it.

It wouldn't do any good.

And when they find out,

they will take revenge, one way or another.

I have put a lot of time

nto writing this.

It is love.

This time, I am making

a special request. You see?

You understand why I don't want

them to know?

Do you have a pen?

Thank you.

A post box?

Yes.

She prefers to remain discreet.

She is divorced

but lives with her son.

You can read

if you want.

Well, ...

... usually ...

... I refuse to play postman.

But as an exception, given what

you have told me, ..

... I'll post the letter.

Thank you, counsellor.

Thank you very much.

The murders that Salinas

has admitted to.

Sarkis Anna, 9,

Arras, April 2000.

Arnaud Tessier, 8,

St Pierre des Corps, October 2003.

Messouadhi Karim, 10,

Angouleme, January 2004.

Loïc Fuller, 10,

Lacanau, July 2004.

And the places

where he stayed.

Dainville, St Avertin, ...

... Soyaux, St. Helena.

Both lines

follow the railway.

We know that Salinas

travels only by train.

His cousin lives there.

Emily Malinowski, 10,

June 21, 2003.

Emily was

his second victim.

Dear Richard, ..."

I am surprised to find myself

calling you by your first name.

And I tell myself that I was right,

a thousand times right, to trust in God.

He alone could allow

such a miracle."

You will prove that

I am innocent.

I trust in you, and in justice as well,

despite everything."

I place my hope in you

and I continue to pray.

May God Almighty

guide your steps. "

Doctor Delmas?

This way, Inspector.

Come on up.

Excuse me. I am taking advantage of

retirement to keep myself in shape.

I'll be right with you.

You're welcome.

Beep beep beep

Good, that will do for today.

My wife

bought it for herself ...

... but considering what it cost, ...

I decided ...

to take advantage of it a little.

You have the prescription?

As I said on the phone,

it's not recent.

Armand Salinas ...

I remember.

His cousin called me.

He had headaches

and was delirious.

I had to administer a sedative.

What was the reason for this crisis?

He had had problems since

the death of his mother when he was 15.

For him

it was a terrible shock.

He developed

repeated migraines.

But at 18,

he left home.

I never saw him again.

You know what became of him?

No.

Later, I heard stories of

physical abuse.

People talk too late.

And that famous night ...

Did you notice

anything special?

Did he look

like he had been in a fight?

No, I do not remember.

I would have noted it

on the prescription.

You did not appear at

his trial?

No, I can't see

why I would have appeared.

Did you see him again?

Never. I heard about him

on the news.

It was a shock, but ...

Yes?

I remember

the death of your child.

Like everyone, I followed

the case in the newspapers.

If I understand correctly ...

... you think Armand Salinas

could be the murderer?

It is a possibility.

Well ... So, let me

tell you something, Captain.

I should not

tell you this, ...

... because it is covered

by medical confidentiality.

I don't understand.

You think

Daniel Eckmann is innocent?

I state nothing.

I am exploring a trail, that's all.

My position

doesn't give me unlimited resources.

I need

a helping hand.

Okay.

But you will need to tell me more,

Inspector.

I have plenty of time.

Before turning to sports, there are new

developments in the Eckmann case.

With us, Charlene Kraus,

our forensic specialist.

Exactly, Antoine.

The information comes directly

from Inspector Malinowski ...

... The father of little Emily.

He determined that the serial killer Armand

Salinas, currently incarcerated in Bordeaux, ...

... Indicted

for four other murders of children ...

... Was

in the Paris region, ..

... The day of the murder of his daughter.

We have tried to contact Florence Arcaro,

the judge handling the matter, ..

... But she did not want

to comment on the case.

However, if this information is confirmed,

it could lead to a review of the facts ...

... on which Daniel Eckmann

was convicted.

If I understand correctly, this policemen

is launching an appeal for witnesses?

Absolutely, Antoine.

And having spoken

to him at length, ...

I can tell you that the Inspector will

take this counter-investigation all the way.

Even though it may call into question ..

... the findings of his very own colleagues.

Thank you.

...

What is this story?

Who is this Salinas?

A serial killer who got nicked in Bordeaux.

Stepehen is working on it.

What was his relationship with Emily?

He was in the area on that day.

Why didn't you tell me about it?

Why am I learning about it on TV?

Trust me.

Trust?

You re-open the investigation into

teh death of your daughter without telling me.

You go and confide in a journalist.

Do you trust me?

Hi.

Hi.

I sent you a report.

Ok.

Have you lost your marbles?

I want to know

who killed my daughter.

The person who kileld your daughter is in the can.

He's called Daniel Eckmann.

If you had listened you'd know

that there are some disturbing facts.

What I would call coincidences.

The case against Eckmann is straightforward.

And let me remind you that he confessed.

And let me also point out, that

Salinas does not rape his victims.

As far as we know.

Tell me, as of today, can you swear

that Eckmann is guilty?

One hundred percent?

Yes, I can swear to that.

I'll sign whatever you want.

Believe me, damn it!

You're making a mistake

looking for someone else.

You're hurting

and you're hurting people around you, ...

... Starting with Claire.

Phone

Yes?

No, it Arnalds.

He is with me.

I note.

Yes.

A good woman

called the General Staff.

She has things to say

about Salinas.

I'm coming with you.

I saw the report about the case

on TV ...

... about your little girl ...

... and Salinas.

At the time, ..

... it was a couple of joggers

who discovered the body, right?

It was June 21, 2003, right?

Yes.

I'm a maniac.

I make a note of everything.

My professional appointments

and everything I do.

Restaurants, cinemas, sports ...

Everything.

That day, I was also

jogging in the woods ...

Between 11 and mid-day.

I saw Armand Salinas at the end of the

path that leads to the pond. I remember his face.

You realize what you are saying?

Yes.

Why did you wait so long before

telling us?

At the time, they had arrested the culprit.

Why would I make a link between

the crime and this man that I had seen?

I saw the face of Salinas

the other evening on TV.

This is very important.

You must be sure of yourself.

If you confirm that you saw Salinas

it will have repercussions.

For him and for man

who is currently incarcerated.

I know.

But I have to do it, right?

Yes.

Christina Carlier

34, secretary in an IT company

Husband died of cancer

3 years ago.

Since then, she lives alone with her son.

No police record.

A model citizen.

A false witness

put up by Eckmann?

I thought of that.

I checked everything. Mail,

visits: there's no link.

What? What's ip?

I don't know.

It doesn't feel right.

You've heard

Her testimony

and my information, ...

... That should be enough.

Enough for what?

Enough for a retrial.

A retrial?

Are you nuts!?

What do you mean, nuts?

Everything I have collected points to Salinas!

Even the way Emily was killed.

Just like the other kids.

That's what you say! It remains to be seen.

What more do you want?

I'll tell you what I want. I want a cop who stops

thinking that his colleagues ...

Are morons who collared the first

person they found.

They can all swear

that Eckmann is guilty.

All of them!

Get that through your skull!

And stop boozing, for Chrissakes!

Eckmann, justice has probably erred

in finding you guilty.

I have long been on the side of those

who believe you to be guilty.

But my investigation appears to show that

you are not the murderer of my daughter.

I didn't want to help you.

Only the search for

the truth matters to me.

Buzzer

Dear Richard,

I met today with Peters ...

... The lawyer that you found me.

He is great.

We talked at length about the file

that you gave him.

It's me.

There is a bill

that I need to deal with today.

I'm running out of checks.

Call me back, please.

Locked drawer

Yes, I'll be there in one hour.

Bye, Mum.

Hi.

I didn't want to get involved.

Didn't want to get involved?

The murderer ...

... of our daughter writes to you!

What are you trying to do?

Do you want to free this guy?

The man who killed Emily!

I want the real culprit, that's all.

Which culprit?

Arnalds came to see me.

He does not understand what is going on with you.

Nobody understands what is going on with you.

Talk to me!

Talk to me!

Claire ...

Yeah, Gino?

What for?

Dope.

How much?

Bugger all, 200 grams.

200 Grams, bugger all!?

Take care of it yourself.

Shall we go?

Are you coming?

I can't, Dad.

Why not?

"You know very well.

Know what?

I'm dead.

Clock Radio

Jingle France Info

It is 7:00 on France Info.

Here is the news.

Based on article 622 of the code of

criminal procedure, ...

... having determined that the

appeal is well-founded, ...

The Court of Appeals has

set aside Eckmann's conviction.

It will set the date

for a new trial.

Tonight at 8.30, a complete report

with our special correspondent.

Coughing

"Eckmann, ...

The day before your new trial begins,

I am writing one last time ...

First to assure you of my support ...

... and to confirm

that in the proceedings ...

... I will appear as a

witness for the defense.

Nor very smart to leave your nursery!

Especially without your nanny!

I hear you're getting out?

We'll miss you.

Now you're going to find out how

it feels to take it up the ass!

Phone

Yes, hello?

Good morning Catherine, it's Richard.

Oh, hello Richard.

Is Claire there?

Um ...

No, she went out.

OK ...

Richard ...

Yes?

You, how are you?

What should I say?

That everything is alright?

No, of course not.

Listen, Peter and I,

we are not angry with you.

We don't understand these

procedures very well ...

.. But, if you are doing this,

you must have your reasons.

Thanks, Catherine.

Give her my love.

Of course.

Goodbye.

Slow Piano

...

Mrs. Carlier, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole

the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Raise your right hand

and say 'I swear'.

I swear.

I was in the woods,

that day.

I already told the judge.

For the rest, it was not me.

The witness said she saw you

that day near the pond.

It was not me.

Either the lady is mistaken, or it was another day.

I don't know.

Another day. Does that imply that you were

a regular visitor to these woods?

Not often, but I like to walk.

Can we assume that you were

In these woods the day of the murder ...

... And that you are confusing

it with another day?

No, I know very well what I have done

and when I have done it.

Just because I have screwed up,doesn't mean

that you can pin everything on me.

Screwed up? Doubtless you mean the four

murders to which you have confessed?

Counsellor, may I remind you that Mr. Salinas ...

.. appears of his own free will.

He may only be examined

in respect of this case.

Limit your comments

strictly to this trial.

Excuse me, your Honor.

Counsellor, please go on.

I had already finished, your Honor.

The plaintiff?

No questions.

Thank you, Mr. Salinas.

You can step down.

Listen, kid.

If you didn't do the deed,

good luck to you.

To the question, is the accused guilty

of the murder of Emily Malinowski, ...

... It was answered 'yes'

by 7 votes out of 12.

The majority of 8 not being

obtained, Mr. Eckmann is acquitted.

The court orders that he be released.

"Mr. Malinowski

Are you satisfied with the verdict?

If Salinas is not the murderer,

who killed your daughter?

My dear captain, ...

... This time, that's it.

Here I am.

VIP section

individual cell ...

... For all the sex offenders,

the "nonces", as they are known here.

I have had the time to

think about everything ...

... These strange impulses which turn me into

the polymorphous pervert described by the experts.

The first time I was 20 years old.

The little bitch wanted to report me

after getting screwed ...

... even though she led me on.

The second time, it was different.

she was younger.

I sometimes think about her corpse,

which has never been found.

Your daughter was the third.

What happened between us

was incredible.

Her youth, her freshness ...

All I did was take what was offered.

Now I'll tell you how it happened.

Lock

Are you ready?

I'm ready.

Sir, you're on.

Hi, good evening.

First I would like to say that it is fortunate

that the death penalty has been abolished in France.

Otherwise, Mr. Eckmann would

almost certainly have been executed.

Then I would like to ask of Mr. Eckmann, how did he react

when he was the victim of such a serious miscarriage of justice?

I think I reacted pretty well,

pretty positively.

Those who condemned me

did not have all the facts.

Then I was pardonned.

You know, I believe in God.

It helps.

There you go.

Thank you and goodbye.

Before taking

a new caller, ...

.. I would like to spend a couple of seconds on the man,

thanks to whom you have been released, Inspector Malinowski.

You have said that you would like

to thank Inspector Malinowski.

Yes, it's true. I owe my release to him.

We cannot, of course,

give out his private number, nor yours ...

... but, instead, if Mr. Malinowski

is watching right now, ..

... he can contact us at the number

at the bottom of the screen.

We'll be right back after

the advertising.

Are you okay?

What is it?

I thought that for our first meeting ...

... I was expecting something

a little more romantic.

And have someone recognize me,

and be all over us? No thanks!

Whenever I go out, I am constantly harassed.

Journalists, people in the street.

I wanted to share this important

moment in peace.

I think I am going to accept

the offer from that guy.

The guy from Nice?

Are you going to go there?

I'm tired of Paris.

They'll pay 200,000 Euros

in compensation.

3 years jail for nothing,

I have earned it.

I can buy a house. In 3 or 4 months,

you can come down and join me.

-3 Or 4 months?

We just barely ...

Just three months.

We already waited three years.

Yeah ...

I don't know. I am not alone.

I have my son.

Bring him. I look forward to

getting to know him.

Did you bring the letters?

Yes ...

What are you going to do with them?

I have to burn them.

What?

Of course, it is safer.

But, these letters are important

to me. This is our story.

They always remind me of prison.

And our story. as you call it,

it starts now.

Come on, give them to me.

Is this all of them?

Yes.

This is very important to me.

You know, it's thanks to you

that I endured it.

Are you sure that nobody

knows about the two of us?

-Nobody. You don't brag about

a relationship with a convict.

What's up?

Nothing.

I think back to

what I said in court.

I know that you are innocent

but it was wrong of me to lie.

Christina, listen to me, ...

... You heard the officer testify for me,

the father of the little girl?

Do you think that he would have done that,

if he wasn't sure that Salinas was guilty?

You didn't lie. You just allowed

the truth to be established ...

... and that truth is that the man, who you love

and who loves you, is innocent.

When I saw you in court

it was crazy.

You were exactly

as I had imagined you.

I wear it all the time.

C'mon, now. You should get going.

I'll call you soon.

Dials mobile phone

Counsellor?

Good evening

it's Daniel Eckmann.

I would like to thank Malinowski

before I leave ...

... and you said you would

give me his number.

Yes, go ahead.

Yes.

Ok, thank you.

You can count on me.

You gave me nothing.

Sure. Good night, Counsellor.

Good night.

Phone rings

Yes?

Richard, it's Daniel Eckmann.

Yes?

You are not surprised?

I knew you would call.

I am leaving Paris the day after tomorrow.

I would love to see you.

I need to see you.

Good evening.

Good evening.

This is stupid,

I don't know what to say to you.

In fact, I wanted to thank you

before I left ...

... and also, to give you this.

Since the first day of

my incarceration, I prayed to God ...

... that he gives me the

strength to endure ...

... and that he does something

to get me out of there.

Do you believe in God,

Inspector?

I've stopped.

It was not mutual.

I would like you to keep it anyway.

It's important for me.

Whisky?

That's all I've got.

Whisky.

Her bedroom is upstairs?

Yes.

I would like very much to take

a few moments to pray for her.

I would not be upset if you

refused.

I would understand completely.

Come.

Your wife is not here?

No. She's gone.

It's not for good,

I hope.

She's a medic, right?

Anesthesiologist.

Right from the start,

I knew it was you.

It's one thing to want to kill

someone in the heat of the moment ...

... when you are in pain.

Afterwards, it's not the same.

Over time, ..

.. We forget, so as

not to go crazy.

Sometimes, even, we forgive.

15 years of police work.

I've seen broken families, ..

Fathers swear they would wait 20 years ...

... But they would kill the

murderer of their child or wife.

It never happens.

Salinas was a unique opportunity.

But he has nothing to do with this.

He has an extremely rare condition.

Someone with this condition

is unable to have sex.

I don't know why he didn't tell the judge.

Perhaps he didn't want to roll

over all the time.

Maybe he got a kick out of it.

Told himself that by shutting his mouth,

he would save your hide.

Muffled shouts

You should never have written to me.

Muffled cries

There is still no news

of Daniel Eckmann.

His employer, who was expecting him

yesterday, is worried.

We managed to contact his lawyer,

Mr. Peters.

Mr. Eckmann's car was found

locked at Orly airport.

Could we assume that he wanted to disappear,

tired from the pressure?

Listen, to tell you the truth ...

... I have heard nothing from him.

When you think about everything that he has

lived through since his incarceration, ..

I wouldn't be surprised that

he might have cracked ...

... and that he might have wanted to

escape all of the media attention.

He needs time to recover ...

Time to enjoy the freedom, of

which he was unjustly deprived.

I am sure that, in a while,

he will resurface.

Thank you, Counsellor.

That is the end of the news.

Thank you for watching.

I found your letter of resignation.

Before his disappearance,

Eckmann called you.

We have the telephone records.

He wanted to thank me.

That's it, right.

I received a phone call

from a retired doctor: Delmas.

He wanted to talk to you.

He told me something

about Salinas, ...

... A genetic abnormality

that he suffered from.

Apparently he had told you.

If he says so ...

Bloody hell, do you think that

you will live better after this?

Live?

I died three years ago.