Father of British student, 20, murdered by the ‘ogre of the Ardennes’ faces last chance for justice as killer’s widow is put on trial for helping him abduct her and dump her body in a river

• Joanna Parrish, 20, was raped and beaten before her death in May 1990

The father of a British university student killed by a French serial killer 33 years ago is hoping for justice as a woman accused of being complicit in her rape, kidnap and murder is put on trial tomorrow.

Monique Olivier, 75, is alleged to have been involved and complicit in her former husband Michel Fourniret’s killing of Joanna Parrish, 20, in Moneteau, France, in May 1990.

Miss Parrish was working as an English teaching assistant at the Jacques-Aymot high school in Auxerre, Burgundy, when she was killed. Her naked body was found at Moneteau in the River Yonne nearby. The autopsy revealed that she had been raped and beaten before her death.

Serial killer Fourniret had confessed to the murder of Miss Parrish three years before he died in prison on 2021.

Now Olivier, who was married to Fourniret from 1989 to 2010, is facing a three week trial on three charges of murder, including one for the killing of Miss Parrish.

She is already serving a life sentence for involvement in five of the murders Fourniret had previously admitted.

Joanna Parrish, 20, was working as an English teaching assistant at the Jacques-Aymot high school in Auxerre, Burgundy, when she was killed. Her naked body was found at Moneteau in the River Yonne nearby. The autopsy revealed that she was raped and beaten before her death

Monique Olivier, 75, is alleged to have been involved and complicit in her former husband Michel Fourniret’s killing of Miss Parrish. Olivier is pictured waiting at the Charleville-Meziere courthouse, northern France, on May 29, 2008

Serial killer Michel Fourniret had confessed to the murder of Miss Parrish three years before he died in prison on 2021. He is pictured leaving the Charleville-Mezieres courthouse in May 2008

Miss Parrish, of Gloucestershire, was on a year abroad as part of her French degree course at Leeds University when she was reported missing on May 16, 1990. Her body was found the next day. 

Fourniret, dubbed the ‘Ogre of Ardennes’, was jailed in 2008 for the murders of seven girls but it was a decade before he confessed that Miss Parrish had been another of his victims. 

He was charged with abduction, rape and murder but died in prison in 2021, aged 79, before he could be brought to trial.

READ MORE: The mystery of missing ‘French Madeleine McCann’: Estelle Mouzin disappeared aged nine on her way to school amid fears she was snatched by ‘Ogre of Ardennes’ killer… but her body has never been found 

But his widow will now go to trial over her alleged role in the rape and murder of Fourniret’s three victims, including Miss Parrish.

Olivier has admitted luring young girl’s into her husbands clutches before he raped and murdered them, The Times newspaper reported. She also helped dispose of their bodies.

Didier Seban, a lawyer representing Miss Parrish’s father Roger Parrish, branded Olivier as an ‘absolute darkness’, telling the Times that the family ‘cannot look ahead’ until the ‘judicial truth has been spoken’. 

Mr Parrish had battled for justice for his daughter from the moment her body was found. He visited France many times to appeal for information from the public and also to monitor the police investigation.

Her murderer had remained unknown despite intensive police enquiries and the efforts of Mr Parrish, a retired Land Registry civil servant, and his ex-wife Pauline Sewell to keep their daughter’s tragic death in the public eye.

Mr Parrish is ‘angry’ over the ‘blunders’ that were determinantal to his daughter’s murder investigation, Mr Sedan added. 

In 2018, when Fourniret confessed to the murder of his daughter, Mr Parrish spoke of his relief that the family finally knew the truth.

At that time, he said: ‘It’s something that we’re pleased to hear about. We’re relieved in many ways. Let’s hope it’s something which we can take forward.

‘If we can get that kind of certainty it would be a huge relief. It’s the final hurdle that we’ve faced for the last 27 years.

‘We try to get on with our lives as best we can do. But there are times with it comes back when you least expect.’

‘Our lawyers are confident that this has a degree of positivity which we’ve not had up to now. We’re being guarded about it because of our past experience.’

Miss Parrish, of Gloucestershire, was on a year abroad as part of her French degree course at Leeds University when she was reported missing on May 16, 1990. Her body was found the next day. Joanna Parrish is pictured with her brother Barney in Paris

Didier Seban, a lawyer representing Miss Parrish’s father Roger Parrish, branded Olivier as an ‘absolute darkness’. He said Mr Parrish (left) ‘cannot look ahead’ until the ‘judicial truth has been spoken’. Pictured are Mr Parrish and his ex-wife Pauline Sewell (right) in Auxerre on the 10th anniversary of their daughter’s death

Olivier will face trial tomorrow over her role in three murders dating back several decades, including the killing of Miss Parrish. Monique Olivier is pictured at the Charleville-Meziere courthouse in May 2008

Olivier will face trial tomorrow over her role in three murders dating back several decades, including the killing of Miss Parrish.

The crimes date back to 1988 in the case of Marie-Angele Domece, who disappeared aged 18 from Auxerre, and 1990 for Miss Parrish. 

Olivier is charged with aiding and abetting the kidnapping and murder of the girls. 

Her third charge is for complicity in the 2003 disappearance of nine-year-old Estelle Mouzin, whose body has never been found two decades on, despite intensive searches. 

The body of Domece has also never been found.

Many of the witnesses set to be called in Olivier’s three-week trial are investigators from France and Belgium, where Fourniret was arrested in 2003.

They are also set to include Sabine Kheris, the investigating magistrate who took Fourniret’s confession.

She is now in charge of a recently created ‘cold cases’ unit based in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. This case is the first of the unit’s to come to trial.

France has for years been simultaneously repelled and fascinated by the crimes of Fourniret, who was dubbed the ‘ogre of the Ardennes’ by media after the hilly region on the French-Belgium border where he lived and preyed on his victims.

The crimes date back to 1988 in the case of Marie-Angele Domece, (left) who disappeared aged 18 from Auxerre, and 1990 for Miss Parrish. Olivier is charged with aiding and abetting the kidnapping and murder of the girls. Her third charge is for complicity in the 2003 disappearance of nine-year-old Estelle Mouzin, (right) whose body has never been found two decades on, despite intensive searches

Many of the witnesses set to be called in Olivier’s three-week trial are investigators from France and Belgium, where Fourniret was arrested in 2003. She is pictured leaving the court after the defence pleading on May 26, 2008

Gloucestershire Police have this week asked the media not to contact Mr Parrish or Ms Sewell ahead of the trial or during the proceedings.

A police spokesperson said: ‘Joanna Parrish, from Newnham-on-Severn, was raped and murdered in Monéteau, France in May 1990 whilst working in a school as an English assistant.

‘This was subject of an extensive investigation by the French authorities for many years. A French serial killer, Michel Fourniret, was a suspect, along with his wife Monique Olivier.

‘Michel Fourniret died in 2021 in prison, following his confession to her murder. Monique Olivier was formally charged earlier this year and will be standing trial in Nanterre, Paris for three murders.

‘The trial is due to commence on 28 November and last for three weeks. The verdict day is set for Friday, December 15.

‘While the family deeply appreciate the support given to them by the media as they have sought justice over the last 33 years they are asking for privacy at this time.

France has for years been simultaneously repelled and fascinated by the crimes of Fourniret, (pictured in 2004) who was dubbed the ‘ogre of the Ardennes’ by media after the hilly region on the French-Belgium border where he lived and preyed on his victims

‘Gloucestershire Constabulary is providing direct support to the family, alongside the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.’

Acting Detective Inspector Faye Satchwell-Bennett, the Tactical Family Liaison Officer Lead for Gloucestershire Police, added: ‘The Parrish family are preparing to attend France for the trial and to finally seek long awaited justice for the death of Joanna.

‘This is an extremely distressing and highly emotional time for them and we would please ask that their privacy is respected at this time. 

‘They are being directly supported by Family Liaison Officers (FLOs) from Gloucestershire Constabulary, The National Homicide Service and the Foreign Office. They will be supported at the trial in person by FLOs and the British Consulate.’

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