Overview
- Mimi Marchand is accused of extorting €1,600 from Karine Le Marchand by offering to block photographs of Le Marchand’s minor daughter taken during a 2020 police custody incident.
- The prosecution characterized Marchand’s methods as a scheme to create indebted ‘obligés’ among celebrities by controlling and intercepting paparazzi images.
- On the stand Marchand admitted lying about the identity of the photographer and accepting payment, repeatedly calling her conduct “idiote.”
- Karine Le Marchand testified that Marchand’s actions formed part of a broader business of press manipulation and harassment to secure favors.
- Photographer Sébastien Valiela confirmed that Marchand had the means to prevent the publication of sensitive images, reinforcing claims of her undue influence.