Eighth Day Brings Heated Exchanges and Key Testimonies
The eighth day of the Cédric Jubillar trial at the Tarn assizes was marked by sharp exchanges and a series of testimonies that cast the defendant in a harsh light. On the stand and in the courtroom galleries, the compagne of the man accused of killing Delphine Jubillar-Aussaguel, along with friends of the nurse who cared for the couple’s children, shared observations that intensified scrutiny of Jubillar. The atmosphere was charged as lawyers for Delphine’s friends and family pressed for a narrative that the accused has repeatedly lied in the course of the investigation and trial.
A Confrontation at the Bar: “They Want Me to Be Guilty”
One of the day’s defining moments came when the defendant directed a pointed response toward witnesses at the bar. In a tense exchange, Mourad Battikh, who represents civil parties, pressed Jubillar about statements allegedly made to a nanny after the couple’s children’s routine. The corroborating witness had relayed that Jubillar criticizes another case (Jonathann Daval)’s conduct. When questioned, Jubillar flatly denied making those remarks and argued that the testimony was an invention designed to entrench him in guilt.
“So it’s an invention, she lies? Why would these people lie at the bar?” Battikh pressed, seeking to unpick the credibility of the witnesses. Jubillar replied with a stark, defiant claim: “To dig me in deeper, because they want me to be the guilty one.” The moment underscored the procedural friction typical of a high-profile homicide trial where every assertion is weighed against motive and memory.
Portraits of a Man Under Scrutiny
Multiple testimonies painted a picture of a man scrutinized by those close to Delphine Jubillar-Aussaguel and by those who knew the nurse. Some witnesses described Jubillar as untrustworthy, using the label “liar” to summarize perceptions of his conduct. Several attendees also raised concerns regarding his behavior toward his son, now 11 years old, with some testimonies indicating possible violence. Notably, two witnesses stated outright that they believed Jubillar had killed his wife, an assessment that reflected the emotional temperature in the courtroom as the defense sought to reframe the narrative around the husband’s culpability.
New Evidence: An Audio Recording Complicates the Case
Adding another layer to the day’s proceedings was an audio recording from shortly after Delphine Jubillar’s disappearance. Recorded 33 hours into the inquiry and made without Jubillar’s knowledge, the recording features the defendant discussing the victim in the past tense. At that moment, investigators did not rule out homicide, and the recording raised questions about the trajectory of Jubillar’s statements and the couple’s relationship in the weeks leading up to the disappearance.
Defence Voices: A Mediatized Trial
Emmanuelle Franck, one of Jubillar’s defense attorneys, condemned what she called a “media trial.” She argued that the person at the center of the courtroom is being judged publicly before law has weighed the facts. The defense contends that the press and social media have caricatured Jubillar, and that the justice system should temper sensationalism to ensure a fair evaluation of the evidence. “Mediatically, this is a man who has already been judged and condemned,” Franck said, insisting that French justice does not function as a public spectacle.
What Comes Next
The day’s proceedings highlighted the central challenge for the defense and the prosecution: assessing the reliability of testimonies from witnesses tied to Delphine Jubillar-Aussaguel and those who knew the couple. As the ninth day looms, the court is expected to hear further accounts from friends of the nurse and from the companion of the lover, along with additional cross-examinations designed to test the consistency and plausibility of the testimonies already presented. The case continues to polarize opinion inside and outside the courtroom, with the verdict hinging on the credibility of competing narratives about what happened to Delphine Jubillar in late 2020.
Takeaway for Readers
Day eight underscored how personal histories, alleged motives, and contested records intersect in a murder trial that has captivated public attention in France. The courtroom remains a battleground where every witness, every fragment of audio, and every cross-examination could tilt the scales of justice in the Tarn assizes.
