Yvan Colonna

Corsican MEP François Alfonsi has written to all members of the European Parliament to highlight the case of Yvan Colonna and the controversy surrounding his trial.

Sentenced to life imprisonment in 2007 for the 1998 murder of Corsican Prefect Claude Erignac, this conviction was overturned last year, and Colonna is currently being retried. He has always protested his innocence.

As his latest trial comes to an end, a support group has published a dossier detailing serious concerns about the handling of the case. They question the credence of the evidence used to secure an original conviction, noting that eyewitnesses failed to put Colonna at the scene of the crime and that he had an alibi.

Serious concerns are raised about the right to a fair trial and fair defence, with supporters arguing that both of these principles have been undermined in the name of state interest.

François Alfonsi commented:

"Everyone has the right to a fair trial and a fair defence. Serious concerns have been raised about the whole process leading to the conviction and subsequent retrial of Yvan Colonna. The dossier prepared by his supporters is a fascinating account which questions why he was ever put on trial in the first place. It also raises serious questions about the behaviour of French judiciary and law enforcement."

Note

More information at www.yvan-colonna.com