Salt Lake Tribune, 05/21/04 French pedophilia scandal rocks system By Jamey Keaten The Associated Press PARIS -- A woman's admission that she lied in accusing 13 people of pedophilia -- causing some to be imprisoned for up to three years -- has riveted France and shaken the nation's legal system. Myriam Delay, an unemployed mother, stunned a courtroom in the northern French town of Outreau this week by saying she lied in accusing the 13, one of whom committed suicide behind bars. The trial began May 4 on allegations that 17 defendants, including a priest, had carried out group rapes of children in an Outreau housing project between 1995 and 2000. In court Tuesday, a weeping Delay turned to defendant Roselyne Godard and said: "You did nothing. I am sick, a liar. I lied about it all." Delay, a mother of five who says she was abused by her father while growing up in Algeria, then said the same to each of the other 12 defendants. All had denied the charges. The four others -- Delay, her husband Thierry Delay, and two neighbors, Aurelie and David Delplaque -- admitted to the abuses under questioning by investigators, officials said. The case, involving allegations of rape, torture and bestiality, has ripped apart the lives of the defendants. One committed suicide while behind bars, and others have lost custody of their children. During the trial, a kindergarten teacher testified about her suspicions of mistreatment of children after a 6-year-old told stories of abuse in the Delay home in late 2000. More than 100 witnesses, police officers, doctors and some of the 18 alleged victims -- who were 3 to 18 at the time -- are to appear for the six-week trial. It is in recess until Monday. One defendant, held since May 2001, was provisionally freed after Delay's testimony, and family members of the others clamored for their immediate release. Justice Minister Dominique Perben defended the justice system Thursday, saying the trial must not discredit children's testimony, though he acknowledged the case raises questions about the way investigators collect accounts from young victims of pedophilia. Defense teams criticized investigating judge Fabrice Burgaud, who has overseen the case since February 2001, saying he gave too much credit to accusations by children. "This is a judicial shipwreck," said defense attorney Eric Dupond-Moretti. Detective Eric Anderson West Valley Police Department Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (801) 579-1400 (801) 514-5901