Lawyer for murdered film producer welcomes new judge appointment

The lawyer acting for the family of French film producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier, who was killed in Ireland in 1996, has welcomed the appointment of a new judge to an inquiry into her death.

Judge Nathalie Turquey has been appointed to head up the investigation after Judge Patrick Gachon was forced to move on by a forthcoming promotion.

Judge Gachon had spent eight days in Ireland last October to meet key witnesses, revisit the scene of Ms Toscan du Plantier’s unsolved murder in Cork, and meet with senior gardaí officers.

Alain Spilliaert, the family’s lawyer, said: “Nathalie Turquey is a very experienced magistrate who has investigated many high-profile cases, so she is a very good choice to replace Judge Gachon, who led the investigation for the past seven years.”

Mr Spilliaert said Judge Turquey “did a good job in the full glare of the media spotlight” while investigating the killing of French actress Marie Trintignant.

Last month, Mr Spilliaert told The Irish Times that he believed a prosecution would take place this year.