The second week of appeal trial of the Millas accident begins this Monday at the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal. Scheduled until October 25, this new body must re-judge Nadine Oliveira, 55, prosecuted for homicide and involuntary injuries seven years later the terrible accident at the level crossing. Six middle school students died and 17 others were seriously injured in the collision between their school bus and a TER train. On the third day of the appeal trial, Wednesday October 9, the defendant made a new heart attack. Still hospitalized, her trial continues without her.
Monday will be devoted to hearing experts, including some had never presented their work before. Nadine Oliveira’s lawyers invited them to present their analyzes during this second trial.
New experts and new witnesses
One of them already spoke during the first week of the hearing. According to this forensic scientist, there was no contact between the bus and the level crossing barrier, in particular because the paint on the bus and that found on the barrier would not be of the same composition. In reality, this expert was not mandated by either party to investigate. He mobilized on his own, because what he read in the press about the accident “shocked him”. This professional then presented his conclusions “to the parties who were capable of hearing it”.
The week will also allow us to hear new witnesses, also requested by the bus driver’s lawyers. A first young woman of 18 years old already took the stand on Thursday October 10. At the material time, she was in a bus behind the damaged vehicle. Aged 12, she told investigators that she had seen the level crossing barrier raised through the window just before the accident. Today, she recognizes that she “can no longer certify this testimony.” “I tell myself that at the time, perhaps I arranged the truth in my mind to accept what had happened. When you are a child, you tell yourself that it was not this woman who caused the death of my six comrades. We tell ourselves that it is not his fault.
Two days dedicated to victims
What will the next witnesses called by the defense say this week? Before the trial, Nadine Oliveira’s two lawyers, Me Jean Codognès and Me Louis Fagniez, promised one more step towards the truth. As for the victims, two days will be devoted to them. Tuesday and Wednesday, around twenty parents, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters will once again come to testify at the bar. Teenagers who experienced the accident will also speak. Having become young adults, some have already testified last week. Alicia told how she lost her leg, she described her life, between the prosthesis, crutches and wheelchair. “A life destroyed.” Enzo spoke about his scar on his arm, his physical and psychological pain, his anxiety now when he hears sirens or when he sees flashing lights, his difficulties, too, in talking about the accident.
As during the first trial, all these victims will not be able to speak directly to Nadine Oliveira. Still hospitalized after her heart attack on the third day of the trial, she is represented by her lawyers. His personality will be described by psychologists and psychiatrists during the day Thursday.
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