Sister-in-law
held in murder of actor's lesbian daughter

Marie-Christine Van Kempen--the sister-in-law of a well-known French actor--has been arrested in connection with the murder of the man's daughter and her girlfriend, London's Daily Telegraph reported Tuesday. Nearly a year ago, the bodies of Roland Giraud's daughter, Geraldine, and her lover, Katia Lherbier, were found in a drainage well near the actor's country house south of Paris. "The French media are speculating that the two may have died in a 'crime of passion' when Van Kempen, a singing teacher, allegedly became her niece's rival for the affections of Lherbier, who sang with a pop-jazz group called Pondichery," the newspaper reported. At the time of the women's disappearance, Van Kempen shared her home with Lherbier, to whom she had been giving voice lessons, the newspaper reported. Investigators searched the basement of Van Kempen's home and found chloroform, which had been used in the killings. They held her for questioning. In addition, witnesses have come forth to report they saw Van Kempen engaged in discussions with two other suspects, Jean-Pierre Treiber and his then-girlfriend, a few days before the murders, the newspaper reported. Treiber has been detained on murder charges. Van Kempen's lawyer told reporters on Monday that his client "denies any participation in the murder of her niece and Katia Lherbier. She protests her innocence and is sure that future investigation will establish the truth.'' (Advocate.com)