More than a century after Guillaume Seznec was condemned for murder in 1924, two of his grandsons have filed a fifteenth request for his rehabilitation. The case, which has persisted for over 90 years, involves claims of "a significant doubt" regarding Seznec's guilt. The request was filed by Denis Langlois, an 86-year-old lawyer who has spent thousands of hours on the case since submitting a first revision request in 1978 on behalf of Seznec's daughter. Langlois represents Jean-Yves and Gabriel Seznec, the grandsons of the condemned man, and argues the case is about upholding a fundamental principle of society: doubt should benefit the accused.
The case dates back to 25 May 1923, when Guillaume Seznec left Rennes with Pierre Quéméneur, a general councillor of Finistère, to conduct business in Paris. Seznec returned alone to Morlaix on the night of 27 to 28 May, claiming he had left Quéméneur at the Dreux station. Quéméneur's body was never found, and Seznec provided no alibi. He was heard 67 times and confronted by 30 witnesses, during which he contradicted himself repeatedly, lied, and attempted to bribe witnesses. The discovery of false promises of sale of Quéméneur's property, to Seznec's benefit, further cast suspicion on him. On 4 November 1924, Seznec was condemned to forced labor for life for murder and forgery, without a body or confession. He spent 20 years in Guyane before being pardoned in 1946 and returning to the mainland in 1947. He died in 1954.
Over the years, several hypotheses have emerged to exonerate Seznec, including the possibility that Quéméneur was killed by his own brother at his manor in Plourivo or by an international gang of Cadillac traffickers. Fourteen previous revision requests were filed and all rejected, the last in 2006. Langlois states that "one cannot establish Seznec's innocence, just as one cannot establish his guilt." His new request does not challenge the condemnation for forgery but focuses on "a significant doubt regarding his guilt in the murder of Quéméneur." The main supporting element is the testimony of "Petit-Guillaume," one of Seznec's sons, who reportedly told three close friends, including Jean-Yves and Gabriel Seznec, that he witnessed the death of Pierre Quéméneur in May 1923 at the family home in Morlaix. According to this account, Quéméneur was accidentally killed by Marie-Jeanne Seznec, Guillaume's wife, who made advances to him. Seznec allegedly discovered the death and fabricated false promises of sale to avoid losing money paid under the table for the purchase of Quéméneur's property.
Historian Michel Pierre, author of L'Impossible innocence (Tallandier, 2019), who had access to the "incriminating" investigation file, considers the hypothesis "totally extravagant," stating that the investigation was well done. He adds, "At one point, it is time to blow the whistle."
French Man's Grandsons Seek Rehabilitation for Great-Grandfather Condemned in 1924 Murder Case
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