(Radio France) Wednesday was eagerly anticipated as a crucial day at the Paris attacks trial. Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the suicide killers who murdered 130 people on the night of 13 November 2015, was to give his version of what really happened. The public benches were packed. The media showed up in droves. And Abdeslam invoked his right to silence. Consternation!
“I don’t wish to say anything today,” Salah Abdeslam announced straight off. The shock and frustration were palpable.
Court president Jean-Louis Périès was at his patient best, supporting the witness in his decision to exercise a right which is guaranteed by French law, attempting, nonetheless, to convince Abdeslam that his silence would help neither his own cause nor comfort the families of victims, dozens of whom were present to hear his testimony.
