A SERIAL killer whose murder spree inspired the television series The Missing has gone back on trial for killing two eight-year-old boys in France.

Francis Heaulme, 58, was lead from his cell in a high security prison into the dock at the Mosell Assizes in Metz, in the east of the country.

6 Francis Heaulme, pictured in 1994, has gone back on trial for killing two eight-year-old boys in France Credit: Rex Features

6 Heaulme has been accused of killing Cyril Beining and Alexander Beckrich, both eight, in 1986 Credit: Getty Images

6 Heaulme, who is already serving a life sentence, was finally brought to justice by a detective called Jean-Francois Abgrall, who inspired Julien Baptiste, a detective in the hit BBC drama "The Missing Credit: BBC

He is known as the "Man from Nowhere" and is suspected of killing up to 50 men, women and children.

Infamous for hardly ever leaving any forensic evidence and working out ingenious alibis, Heaulme was finally brought to justice by a detective called Jean-Francois Abgrall, who inspired Julien Baptiste, a detective in the hit BBC drama "The Missing".

Heaulmem who is 6ft 3ins tall, has already been sentenced to life in prison for nine killings across northern France.

Prosecutors now believe they can link him with the deaths of Cyril Beining and Alexander Beckrich, both eight, in 1986.

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Their bodies were found with their skulls shattered, lying in a disused railway station and lake in Montigny-les-Metz, just south of Metz, on a Sunday afternoon.

It has been reported that the boy's skulls were shattered with stones.

Two other suspects were tried and eventually cleared of the double-murder over the years, leaving Heaulme the current prime suspect.

No DNA was found that could incriminate Heaulme, but he was provably close to the scene of the murders and two fisherman said they saw him "with his face covered in blood".

Prosecutors believe he attacked the children because they had thrown stones at him, an allegation he denies.

Liliane Glock, Heaulme's defence barrister, said: "Francis Heaulme personality and career have thrown dust into the eyes of many.

"His name did not appear on this file until 1997. People have been trying to prove his guilt for 20 years. It's good that it's not that simple."

Ms Glock also added that surviving family of the two dead boys have discussed the case with Heaulme's lawyers and are by no means certain he was the killer.

6 Heaulme, pictured in 1995, has been convicted of nine killings across northern France Credit: Getty Images

Chantal Beining, the mother of Cyril, said: "Today we are talking about Heaulme, but I don't know what to think, especially since he never confessed. He has always denied the facts.

Abgrall's psychological battle with Heaulme played out over three years and was immortalised in a book by Abgrall, now 58, called 'Inside a Killer's Head'.

It tells how Abgrall worked tirelessly to catch Heaulme, even when his colleagues had given up on the case of the murder of nurse Aline Peres in May 1989.

She had been attacked from behind and stabbed in the heart and throat before her body was dumped.

Abgrall was able to identify clues that his colleagues overlooked, a trait inherited by his on-screen counterpart on The Missing.

6 Abgrall worked tirelessly to catch Heaulme and was able to identify clues that his colleagues overlooked, a trait inherited by his on-screen counterpart on The Missing Credit: New Pictures

In January 1992, Heaulme was finally arrested for Ms Peres' murder.

He was also convicted of many other killings including that of another eight-year-old boy, and a 14-year-old girl who was raped.

Abgrall has since left the police service and set up a private detective agency specialising in psychological profiles.

Heaulme's crimes usually had a sexual motive, and all involved extreme violence, in one case his victim was stabbed 84 times.

Many were committed when he had no criminal record, and was hiding away in psychiatric hospitals.

6 Heaulme's crimes usually had a sexual motive, and all involved extreme violence, in one case his victim was stabbed 84 times Credit: Getty Images

At times he admitted particular murders, but the confessions were covered by medical secrecy.

Abgrall said the secret of getting Heaulme to incriminate himself was to talk negatively.

Heaulme eventually described murder scenes with incredible precision, with Abgrall saying: "He doesn't lie. He never makes anything up. But he deliberately covers his tracks by mixing the crimes, dates and locations."

The trial continues.

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