Fifty suspects at start of Sophie inquiry
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GARDAI probing the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier had more than 50 suspects at the start of the case – and Ian Bailey wasn’t one of them.
The 66-year-old, who died after a massive heart attack in Bantry, Co Cork, on Sunday, only entered the frame days after the killing.
But he quickly became the prime suspect for the murder of the French filmmaker who died on December 23, 1996.
Ms du Plantier, who was 38, was killed at her home in Toormore, near Schull in Co Cork, and Bailey was linked to the crime until his death.
A Garda nominated him as a suspect because of his apparently odd behaviour at the scene when he was working as a journalist and the fact he had cuts and scratches.
The officer said he believed Bailey was “a good fit” for the brutal crime.
It’s also understood he was able to tell gardai that Ms du Plantier had not been sexually assaulted – a detail not widely known, even by some gardai.
And, although it is understood officers were convinced Bailey was the killer, there were other theories.
One such early suspect was German national Karl Heinz Wolney.
HOME
He moved to within a mile of Ms du Plantier’s home after the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989.
It is understood he moved to the Toormore area with his wife, but his marriage didn’t last long and the spouse returned to Germany.
He was a musician and was playing in Crookhaven – just 10 minutes’ drive from her home on the evening the Frenchwoman was killed.
Wolney returned home that night and was on his own – which meant he had no alibi.
He went back to Germany in February 1997 and took his own life.
Wolney told to a friend he had done a “terrible thing” and could not live with himself, but he did not say what it was.
He also gave a statement to gardai in which he denied meeting Ms du Plantier or even knowing her.
Officer were also able to eliminate Ms du Plantier’s lover from the list of suspects they drew up.
French artist Bruno Carbonnet was initially on the list of suspects after Ms du Plantier dumped him in 1993..
Cork detectives travelled to France in early 1997 and interviewed him.
French cops later established he was in his apartment on the day of the murder.
He was able to provide them with a receipt for the installation of a
He acted very strangely after her death
IAN BAILEY ON DANIEL TOSCAN DU PLANTIER
telephone the night Ms du Plantier was beaten to death.
Another man who emerged as a suspect was a “peeping Tom”.
The male, who is still alive, was known for going around houses and looking in windows.
Gardai later ruled him out and were satisfied he was not the killer – with sources saying he was able to produce a rock solid alibi for the night.
Another person of interest who was looked at by gardai – was a man from rural Cork. He had mental health issues and it was alleged he had stalked a woman.
He was interviewed by gardai and told them he had been in a pub the night of the murder leaving at 1.30am.
He said he got a lift home – and the driver was tracked down.
That man confirmed the suspect’s story – and he was ruled out. One of the more outlandish claims that emerged was the murder was carried out by a garda.
Gossip claimed the officer, who is now dead, was alleged to have been having an affair with Ms du Plantier – before she dumped him. There is no evidence to substantiate that claim.
Nor is there any evidence to back up another rumour that an assassin was sent from France to kill her.
It was claimed her then husband Daniel was having an affair with a woman.
Bailey claimed Mr du Plantier sent a hitman from France to kill Sophie.
He said: “He acted very strangely after her death. I suspect the hitman is from France but it was never seriously followed up by the gardai.”
But, despite all the rumours and allegations, sources say gardai still believe Bailey is the killer.
They did not have enough evidence to prove it when he was alive, but officers are now hoping they will be able to close the case in his death.
Officers are expected to send a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the coming months.