Retired journalist faces defamation trial

A retired journalist, Marie-France Lefèvre-Bezzina, is being tried in a Paris court for defamation after accusing Christine Villemin of murdering her son, Gregory, who was found drowned in 1984. The trial focuses on statements Lefèvre-Bezzina made on Facebook about Villemin, despite her being officially cleared of the crime in 1993.

Accusations on social media

Lefèvre-Bezzina posted on a Facebook group that Christine Villemin was the "crow" — a term used to refer to the mythical bird associated with death — and claimed that her 1993 acquittal was "full of lies." She also suggested that Villemin's voice had been identified through her own training at a music conservatory.

Journalist's long-standing involvement

Lefèvre-Bezzina and her late husband, Jean-Michel Bezzina, covered the case extensively for various media outlets, using pseudonyms. They initially supported the theory that Christine Villemin was the killer and helped a police commissioner take over the investigation, despite skepticism from other authorities.

Legal and media history

In 1996, Lefèvre-Bezzina sued Christine and Gregory Villemin, accusing them of misleading the public about her and her husband's role as journalists. She was dismissed, but continued to publish doubts about Christine Villemin's innocence in the press and online, even claiming in 2024 that her theory was "implacable."

Trial as a message of firmness

Christine Villemin, who has not been in the public eye for over 30 years, will not attend the trial. Her lawyer emphasized that the case is meant to send a message that false accusations will be prosecuted. Lefèvre-Bezzina's lawyer did not respond to requests for comment. She also linked the murder of Gregory to the killing of Bernard Laroche by Jean-Marie Villemin, Gregory's father, whom she believes was responsible for his son's death.