BERNARD JUDGMENT OF 23 APRIL 1998
5
Mr Bernard’s extreme dangerousness makes the following special measures
essential:
- he must be permanently banned from carrying weapons of any kind, including
those whose sale is not controlled,
- he must be placed on permanent probation after his release from prison,
- imprisonment in an open prison is unthinkable,
- inside prison he must be kept under special surveillance, in view of the
likelihood that he will attempt to escape (high-security wing or similar).
Mr Bernard is liable to a criminal penalty, which must be directly proportionate to
his extreme dangerousness.
Mr Bernard is not curable by criminal treatment (he is not in any case a suitable case
for medical treatment). A number of sentences have not been sufficient to attenuate his
delinquent behaviour. On the contrary, he adopts an omnipotent and defiant attitude
which is reinforced still further by his imprisonment. His sthenia (aggressive attitude)
is unbounded. He feels invincible.
Treatment by means of a criminal penalty is only a social-protection measure aimed
at preventing the certain repetition of serious offences.
Mr Bernard can never be rehabilitated. His allegiance to the world of organised
crime seems irreversible. No sentence can be heavy enough to break his spirit; he will
always try to escape from prison or strengthen his links with other criminals there. He
is certain to reoffend, as is proved by his criminal record.”
This report was served on the applicant on 18 July 1989. He requested a
third opinion, but on 25 July 1989 the investigating judge refused this
request.
14. In the course of a separate investigation concerning an attempted
escape the same judge ordered a psychiatric report and once again appointed
Dr Dumoulin.
After this report had been filed Mr Bernard requested a second opinion,
but this request was refused by the investigating judge on 15 September
1989. The applicant appealed on 25 September 1989 but, in an order of
3 October 1989, the President of the Indictment Division of the Bourges
Court of Appeal refused him leave to appeal to that Division.
15. The applicant was committed for trial before the Rhône Assize Court
in a judgment delivered by the Indictment Division of the Lyons Court of
Appeal on 11 October 1991. The Indictment Division observed that
Mr Bernard had initially admitted his involvement in an armed robbery in
which 430,350 French francs (FRF) had been stolen on 5 June 1987 from a
branch of Crédit Agricole in Nevers. It further noted that the applicant had
been picked out by witnesses from a five-man identity parade as the person
who had stood guard at the door during the robbery. The Indictment
Division also found that the investigation had yielded sufficient evidence
tending to establish that the applicant had robbed a branch of Crédit