The “major developments” in the Dantier case, announced in Court by the State Counsel ten days ago, gave hope to the family. They have been waiting to know the identity of their daughter Nadine’s murderer(s) for over a year. But Jean-Yvon and Caroline Dantier cannot have foreseen that their hopes would develop into a worse nightmare.

“Eye-witness” Nadine Chaton told the police that she was present at the crime scene and saw Nadine’s rape and murder on that fateful Wednesday of June 2003. The investigators were thus expecting a major breakthrough and an eventual arrest.

However, at the last minute, she said her account was only the product of “a dream” and that she had been persuaded into this confession by a police officer of the Anti Drug and Smuggling Unit. Both were then arrested and provisionally charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The police was practically convinced by Nadine Chaton’s version. She described the circumstances of the crime in detail and named two “attackers”. She said she had recognised Jean-Yvon Dantier and Marcellin Azie as two of the “attackers” from their pictures in the press. The investigators were disturbed by this testimony because they think there could really have been more than one person on the crime scene and that Marcellin Azie could be a mere witness.

But, as the police checked the information more thoroughly, Nadine Chaton’s testimony became confused. During her questioning, she said that she was with her lover in a ruined house near the place where Nadine was attacked. When prompted to say more about this “lover”, she named a somone called Gino and then someone else called Frédéric.

As the police could not find either of them, they cornered her. When she realised that the police were not convinced, she changed her version saying that she had seen all this in a dream. More surprisingly : Nadine Chaton alleged that she had come forward at the request of her “lover”, police officer James Mardi.

The police officer, who was questioned again by the police yesterday, denies her allegations. He confirmed that he had an case with Nadine Chaton. However, they were no longer together anymore. Sergeant Mardi, 33, is married with two children and Nadine Chaton, 24, is also married and expecting her fifth child. Until the police uncover Nadine Chaton’s motives for inventing such a testimony and James Mardi’s eventual involvement, the mystery around this case is as impenetrable as ever.

Nevertheless, Nadine Dantier’s relatives are determined to know the truth. At Bambous Court last Thursday, the streamer they held demanded “justice”. Caroline Dantier says she never thought her husband could have had anything to do with Nadine’s murder. In an interview given to l’express-dimanche, she expressed her surprise at these revelations. “Jean-Yvon has absolutely nothing to do with Nadine’s murder. On the contrary, he is fighting to know the truth and has been leading the fight for the last fifteen months.”

Nadine’s mother also explained that Jean-Yvon has brought up Nadine and her other daughter Stephanie from her first marriage. “Jean-Yvon is not Nadine’s biological father but he has made lots of sacrifices for her as well as for her sister.” She has no idea who could be behind this “plot” but thinks it could be “someone who wants to disrupt the police investigation (…) Today, what is important is to understand the schemes of Nadine Chaton and James Mardi. What are their motives? Who paid them?”

Caroline Dantier is adamant: “I have always said and I will say it again: I don’t intend to give up the fight until the truth comes out. I want to know the name(s) of Nadine’s attacker(s).”

In view of the latest developments, the investigation seems to have gone back to square one. Most of the parties and witnesses will probably be questioned again. This could open a new chapter in this complex case…

<I>“Jean-Yvon has absolutely nothing to do with Nadine’s murder. On the contrary, he is fighting to know the truth and has been leading the fight for the last fifteen months.”</I>