Barbie Trial -- Day 5 -- The Izieu Telex

17:40 An argument between several lawyers from the prosecution and defense ensues because President Cerdini allows defense lawyer Vergès to handle the Telex D'Izieu and remove it from its protective plastic. Several lawyers become very upset, because they are afraid Vergès will tear or otherwise destroy the evidence 17:43 A prosecutor asks that the Telex be examined by the jurors and civil parties; explains why it was necessary to remove it from the plastic (because it was difficult to read some of the text through the covering) 17:51 President Cerdini reads a written statement from Barbie, in which he denies the authenticity of the Telex-- there is no handwritten signature on the Telex, and it has been glued to a postcard of a British island 17:53 Prosecutor Nogueres speaks to the document's authenticity 17:54 Cerdini notes that the Telex bears a French stamp dated April 6, 1944; explains the use of the Izieu Telex in the Nuremberg Trials, and notes that at Nuremberg its authenticity was researched 18:02 A clerk reads a letter dated April 13, 1944 and written by a priest near Izieu 18:05 Prosecutor Libman refutes Barbie's arguments that he had nothing to do with the Izieu raid; defense prosecutor Vergès rolls his eyes 18:15 Lawyer Klarsfeld explains that there is a copy of the Telex in the International Criminal Court at The Hague, as well as two other copies that have been in archives since 1946, and that they all perfectly match the Telex admitted in court here 18:18 Lawyer Jakubowicz argues that one of Barbie's collaborators, Mr. Palk, gave testimony implicating Barbie in the Izieu affair 18:19 Defense lawyer Vergès discusses Barbie's deposition in which he said the Telex had been forged, but did not have the money (to pay for an expert opinion and the court would not pay for it 18:21 Prosecutor Libman opines that Barbie certainly had the money to pay for an expert opinion 18:24 Lawyer Rappaport argues that the authenticity of the Telex has been well-researched; Klarsfeld argues that it should be authenticated by German authorities who have experience doing so 18:26 Defense lawyer Vergès says that this is an inappropriate moment to make judgements about the authenticity of the document 18:26 President Cerdini asks for concluding remarks; a lawyer for the prosecution (Nordmann) replies that the prosecution will deliver its remarks at the next proceedings 18:26 Cerdini oversees the public sealing of the documents admitted into evidence 18:43 Cerdini calls a recess