[Lady Sidhe]

I know this didn't happen in the US, but raping and murdering a child deserves death, IMO

Sidhe



June 14, 2004

Justice for Caroline Dickinson

by Times online and PA news

Francisco Arce Montes was found guilty following a six-day trial in Rennes, Brittany, of the charge of murder of a minor preceded, accompanied, or followed by rape.

Montes, seated in the dock of the ornate packed court room, remained deadpan as the verdict was read out. Thirteen-year-old Caroline’s father, John, 48, from Bodmin, Cornwall, looked straight at Montes.

Just minutes after the sentence, John Dickinson stood on the steps of the court with his wife Sue and said: “I would like to be able to say this in French but the emotion is too much. I’m speaking on behave of Sue, Jenny and myself. The first thing to say is this is all about Caroline or ’Caz’ as some of her friends knew her. Although her life was short, she was happy, we knew she had a life ahead of her full of promise. We have some wonderful memories that we will cherish and she will never be forgotten.”

“The events of the last week have been for us a necessary but draining experience, as of course has the pursuit of justice for Caroline over the last eight years. We will now start the process of rebuilding our lives. We acknowledge that we are not the only victims of this dreadful crime, some of whom gave evidence at the trial and others whose evidence we have heard read. During these difficult times we have received support from many - family, our friends, colleagues and Caroline’s friends. Now is the time to let them know how much we have appreciated that support.”

Mr Dickinson, who at one stage was critical of the French investigation, went on: “We wish to express our particular thanks to the team of gendarmes who we knew as ’Cellule Caroline’ who through their hard work and dedication have brought Montes to justice.”

Mr Dickinson thanked his lawyer, Herve Rouzad le Boeuf; the French examining magistrates; and the Devon and Cornwall police who had worked alongside the French investigators.

For years her killer, 54-year-old Francisco Arce Montes, attacked and menaced women across Europe and in the US. On several occasions he was released without charge or bailed, only to move on and offend again. He was only traced by a stroke of luck when a US customs official, who read about Caroline’s case in a British newspaper, ran a check on one of the suspects named and discovered he was in custody in Florida.

Caroline died on July 18, 1996, within inches of four sleeping schoolfriends from Launceston Community College, in the Brittany village of Pleine-Fougeres.

Francisco Arce Montes was sentenced to 30 years in prison.