The Trial By The Devil's Tribunal On 8 August 2026
11.08.26.
Appropriately and suitably called “The Devil's Tribunal” it was so amateur with an obviously biased agenda. I can foresee this gimmick happening on a routine monthly basis whereby flying saucers and space aliens could be introduced. There was nobody present from the Ministry of Justice, nobody from DRAC, no professional archaeologists, and not even one sceptic (the author David Rossoni could have been invited, he has written two books about this subject matter). There were both uncritical and romantic names present, however.
Generally speaking, such gimmicks are organised by the believers only because they are mainly focused on wealth creation schemes for the commune of Rennes-le-Château. It therefore must be generated by sensationalism in order to attract the tourists. Such gimmicks are limited to only one result and one outcome. The last people that are needed and invited would be genuine historians and especially specialist church historians of the Aude region of 19th century France. Everything must be rigged by sheer necessity.
Scan of the Page from L'Independant
Transcripts – English & French
THE INDEPENDANT
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2026
– UPPER VALLEY – LIMOUXIN
Rennes-le-Château
The case of Bérenger Saunière before the devil's tribunal
A case that fascinates the public.
[Image Caption – Center Top]
The prosecuting attorney during her closing argument. (PHOTO CM)
Bérenger Saunière (B.S.) was tried for his entire “case” by the devil's court in Rennes-le-Château on Saturday, August 8, in the late afternoon. Three charges were brought against him: trafficking in masses, the theft of a historical or church treasure, and receiving stolen historical documents.
The public had turned out in large numbers and completely filled the “la salle de la Capitelle”. Each person held ballots: three “guilty” and three “not guilty” to be placed in the ballot box at the end of the pleadings and the prosecution's arguments presented to the court after the witnesses had been heard.
The court and the witnesses were comprised of eminent specialists: presiding judge Éric Giacometti; first vice-president Alexandre Painco, mayor of Rennes-le-Château; second vice-president Christiana Metge; public prosecutor Tania Martino; and defense attorney Jean-Patrick Pourtal. The case concerned the trafficking of masses: B.S. offered masses in France, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, and Romania, which allowed him to earn a considerable amount of money, a possible source of his considerable wealth. The defense, relying on the testimony of David Galley, attempted to portray B.S. as a victim, based on the hypothesis that this trafficking had been orchestrated by Bishop Billard, then Bishop of Carcassonne, under the guise of a secret ecclesiastical organization. The witness Jean-Michel Termenière, on the contrary, strongly supported the theory that the trafficking of masses was initiated by B.S.
The public vote: 85 not guilty and 18 guilty.
Then came the testimony of Richard Audabram (mayor of Alet-les-Bains) who accused B.S. of having stolen the treasure of the Alet-les-Bains abbey hidden in Rennes-le-Château, while Stephanie Butteberg countered that there was no evidence and that finding treasure did not constitute theft. The public vote: 56 guilty and 46 not guilty.
Finally, the case of the receiving of stolen historical documents. Christian Doumergue, through his testimony, supported the prosecution's and the public prosecutor's theory that perhaps some very important documents involving the Archduke of Habsburg, a major Austrian dynasty, had been found in the church and that he had sold them for a very high price. A dramatic turn of events occurred when First Vice-President Alexandre Painco was called to testify for the defense (and was consequently removed from his position as First Vice-President), admitting that B.S. had found documents belonging to the church, but had sent copies to the local town hall which were destroyed by a fire in 1910, and that the known parchments were forgeries. Public vote: 72 not guilty and 30 guilty.
The court's questions posed to the witnesses became part of the story, and the audience witnessed some truly memorable moments, appreciating everyone's commitment. The storm brewing during the trial was even described as a harbinger of the B.S. event. Next year, the Devil's Court is expected to convene to judge Plantard. Another session that will bring together puzzle enthusiasts about B.S.
Cathy Mercier
[Image Caption – Bottom Left]
The public listening to the closing argument of B.S.'s lawyer (PHOTO CM)
[Image Caption – Bottom Right]
The public vote, the sole sovereign. (PHOTO CM)
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L'INDÉPENDANT
MARDI 11 AOÛT 2026
– HTE-VALLÉE – LIMOUXIN
Rennes-le-Château
Le dossier de Bérenger Saunière devant le tribunal du diable
Une affaire qui fascine le public.
[Image Caption – Center Top]
L'avocate générale lors de son réquisitoire. (PHOTO CM)
Bérenger Saunière (B.S.) a été jugé pour l'ensemble de son «affaire» par le tribunal du diable à Rennes-le-Château ce samedi 8 août en fin d'après-midi. Trois actes d'accusation étaient retenus contre lui: le trafic de messes, l'affaire de vol d'un trésor historique ou d'église et l'affaire du recel de documents historiques.
Le public s'était déplacé en nombre et emplissait complètement la salle de la Capitelle. Chacun détenait les bulletins de vote: trois «coupable» et trois «non coupable» à disposer dans l'urne à l'issue du plaidoyer et du réquisitoire plaidés auprès de la cour après l'audition des témoins.
La cour et les témoins étaient animés d'éminents spécialistes: président de la cour, Éric Giacometti; 1er vice-président Alexandre Painco, maire de Rennes-le-Château; 2e vice-présidente Christiana Metge, avocate générale Tania Martino et avocat de la défense Jean-Patrick Pourtal. Affaire trafic de messes: B.S. faisait des offres de messe en France, en Suisse, en Italie, au Portugal et en Roumanie ce lui permit de gagner beaucoup d'argent, origine possible de sa forte richesse. La défense, à l'appui du témoignage de David Galley a tenté de faire passer B.S. comme victime, s'appuyant sur l'hypothèse que ce trafic avait été orchestré par Mgr Billard, alors évêque de Carcassonne sous couvert d'une organisation ecclésiastique secrète. Le témoin Jean-Michel Termenière, a contrario, abondait dans le sens du trafic de messes à l'initiative de B.S.
Le vote du public: 85 non coupable et 18 coupable.
Puis, c'est le témoignage de Richard Audabram (maire d'Alet-les-Bains) qui accusait B.S. d'avoir volé le trésor de l'abbaye d'Alet-les-Bains cachée à Rennes-le-Château, alors que Stéphanie Butteberg opposait le fait qu'il n'y avait pas de preuves et que le fait de trouver un trésor ne représentait pas un vol. Le vote du public: 56 coupable et 46 non coupable.
Enfin, l'affaire du recel de documents historiques. Christian Doumergue, par son témoignage soutenait la thèse du parquet et de l'avocate générale soutenant que peut-être certains documents ont été trouvés dans l'église des documents très importants impliquant l'Archiduc Habsbourg, grande dynastie d'Autriche et qu'il les aurait vendus très cher. Coup de théâtre lorsque le 1er vice-président Alexandre Painco est appelé à témoigner en faveur de la défense (étant de ce fait démis de son siège de 1er vice-président), en acquiesçant le fait que B.S. ait trouvé des documents qui appartenaient à l'église, mais a transmis des calques à la mairie du lieu qui ont été détruits par un incendie du bâtiment en 1910, que les parchemins connus sont des faux. Vote du public: 72 non coupable et 30 coupable.
Les questions de la cour posées aux témoins faisant partie de l'histoire, de grandes envolées ont pu être constatées par le public qui a apprécié l'engagement de chacun. L'orage qui tournait au moment du procès a même été qualifié d'énonciateur de la manifestation de B.S. L'an prochain, le tribunal du diable devrait siéger pour juger Plantard. Une autre séance qui rassemblera les amoureux des énigmes autour de B.S.
Cathy Mercier
[Image Caption – Bottom Left]
Le public écoutant la plaidoirie de l'avocat de B.S. (PHOTO CM)
[Image Caption – Bottom Right]
Le vote du public, seul souverain. (PHOTO CM)
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