134: The Josacine Affair
Summary
This episode of Murder They Wrote explores the 1994 "Josephine Affair" in Normandy, where a nine-year-old girl died after taking antibiotic medicine laced with cyanide. Hosts Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling examine the investigation into Deputy Mayor Jean Marc Duperris, who was convicted of poisoning the child during a botched attempt to kill her father. The discussion highlights how provincial loyalty and media bias led to the vilification of the victim’s family, while a later journalist proposed a domestic accident theory that remains unproven.
Topics discussed
Intro and sponsor read for Nissan Rogue
Setting the scene in Normandy and the news alert
The death of Emily and the discovery of a scandal
Host banter and listener email introducing the case
Timeline of the evening: Emily at the Tocqueville home
Emily's collapse and death from cyanide poisoning
Investigation begins: ruling out accident vs. intent
Revelation of Sylvie's affair with Deputy Mayor Jean Marc
Theory: Jean Marc intended to poison the husband
Sponsor break and recap of the case so far
Wiretap reveals Jean Marc bought cyanide from Alan Bodson
Evidence analysis: gloves, timing, and the poison motive
Local community backlash against the Tenay family
Trial details: zinc pipes, batch match, and alibi
Defense arguments and Jean Marc's collapse in court
Vicious harassment and hate mail sent to the family
Journalist Jean Michel Dumet's alternative theory
The overlooked transcript and the domestic accident theory
Aftermath: Parole, PTSD, and the family's resilience
Listener mail, upcoming Ruth Ellis episode, and outro
Listen ad-free on Castria