Who Killed Sophie Toscan du Plantier? Who is the Killer?
Thats what many viewers of the new Netflix series set in Ireland, Sophie: A Murder in West Cork, are wondering, especially if theyre only into episode one or two of the three-part series. Forewarning: There will be spoilers for the series in this article. Yes. Its a documentary that is based on a real murder mystery out of Ireland. The people featured in the show, including du Plantier and murder suspect Ian Bailey, were and are real people. It was horrific. According to The Sun, the killer caved in her skull with a heavy 17 inch-long concrete block as she tried to flee.  Du Plantier, a movie producer, also had injuries to her chest and hands, as well as scratches on her cheek and neck, the British news site reported. Thats a question of which court you believe. Heres what you need to know:  Bailey Was Convicted by a French Court in Absentia But Never Extradited      Play    Sophie: A Murder in West Cork | Official Trailer | Netflix This three-part series examines one of Irelands most famous murder cases, the death of French producer Sophie Toscan du Plantier in the town of Schull, West Cork in 1996. The brutal murder, which shocked the country, triggered one of the biggest murder investigations Ireland had ever seen and became a national obsession. The documentary will 2021-06-17T08:00:00Z  Sophie Toscan du Plantier was a French national on holiday at her isolated, coastal Irish home near Schull when she was found battered to death in 1996 near a gate on her own property. The homicide transfixed Ireland and France for years, and no one has ever served time in connection with it. According to The Irish Times, there is no DNA or fingerprint matches in the case. The Netflix show reveals that Irish police zeroed in on a key suspect  Bailey, a journalist and amateur poet  immediately. There were many reasons to suspect him, and thats likely why he lost a libel suit against Irish and British media on the question. The police arrested him twice, according to the series. But every time they let him go, and Irish prosecutors never charged Bailey with the crime. The show alleges that he confessed multiple times to the murder to various people, and that witnesses claim he knew Sophie, contradicting his claims that he did not know the victim. Bailey was working as a journalist when the murder occurred, and he showed up at the scene, and by some accounts knew a French woman had been murdered before this was widely known. He adamantly denies murdering Toscan du Plantier. He also had an alleged history of violence against women, and a woman claimed she saw him standing near a bridge the morning of the murder, although she later recanted that accusation. He also had wounds to his hand and face the day after the crime. As the show reveals and real life confirms, although he was never charged in Ireland, where the crime occurred, a French court convicted Bailey in absentia in 2019, and he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. However, an Irish court refused to extradite him, so he walks free in Ireland today. Irish law doesnt follow the same legal principles as those followed in France, so they dont recognize the conviction. As for other suspects, the show says Sophies husband, famed French movie producer Daniel Toscan du Plantier, was ruled out as a suspect. So too was a lover she had taken and rejected, a man named Bruno Carbonnet. Both had alibis, according to Yahoo Entertainment. According to Distractify, Daniel died in 2003 of complications from a heart attack. According to the Sun, before he died, Daniel said Sophie was very dynamic and a young, impulsive woman, adding, In effect she was more than a tough character, with a strict moral code, who feared nothing. She rather avoided the world of society and gossip and preferred the chic and popular quarters where she felt more at ease. He told the Sun they talked about trivialities on the phone before she died and added, I have absolutely no idea as to the perpetrator of the crime and do not see any possible motive for such an act, other than it being an act of violence.  He remarried after his wife died, telling The Irish Times, You have to respond to death with life. It doesnt mean you dont love the marks left within you by the woman who has been taken from you. It doesnt lessen the misfortune. The memory and the suffering remain.  Bailey Recently Floated the Theory That a Hitman Killed Sophie      Play    Ian Bailey speaks to Neil on review of murder investigation of Sophie Toscan du Plantier | RedFM This morning Neil Prendeville spoke Ian Bailey about him requesting a review into the Garda investigation of the murder of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier. He also talked about the upcoming documentaries and how he feared he may become homeless. To hear more great content tune into Cork's Red FM 104-106FM or visit our website redfm.ie 2021-05-25T14:24:27Z  Over the years, Bailey has tried to shift attention to other narratives, alleging that the killer of Sophie Toscan du Plantier may be a hitman. According to a July 1, 2021, article in The Irish Times, a lawyer representing Sophies family recently presented Bailey with a challenge: Come up with some evidence for that. Ian Bailey was convicted in his absence in the Cour dAssise in Paris in May 2019 of the voluntary homicide of Sophie Toscan du Plantier but if he were to come to France, he would have the opportunity to have a new trial where he would be legally represented, he said to the newspaper. If he believes that Sophie Toscan du Plantier was killed by a French hitman and he has information to that effect, then he should come to France, surrender to the French authorities and he could present whatever evidence he had on this hitman to the new trial.  Bailey recently tried to pin the blame on Sophies deceased husband Daniel, telling The Irish Mirror, I suspect the hitman is from France  it was always one of the theories in the case but it was never seriously followed up the by garda. What I do know is it was not me. Her husband was having an affair with his fourth wife, Melita Nikolic. He had a substantial amount of insurance on Sophies life. He acted very strangely after her death. I do not have hard evidence to prove it but that is my view.  The Irish Times reported that Marie Farrell, the woman who retracted her claim that she saw Bailey by a bridge, now says the man was Middle Eastern and recognised the man as being known to Ms Toscan du Plantiers husband, Daniel.  According to Irish Mirror, Bailey has accused the Netflix series of being a piece of self-serving, demonising propaganda. He added, I have had 25 years of life taken away. I have lost my career as a journalist. I have now lost my partner  we had been together for 30 years  and I am now losing my home, so for anybody to suggest that is perverse.  READ NEXT: James Brian Chadwell Investigated as Possible Suspect in Notorious Delphi Murders of 2 Girls