Article content continued

She told the investigating judge that she had never used contraception or had an abortion because of a phobia of doctors. She also said she didn’t keep the babies because she was afraid that they were the results of her incestuous relations with her father. She said the killing had become a “means of contraception,” according to the judicial documents.

She said she told her father of the eight pregnancies and the eight murders, and investigators believe he could have helped her hide some of the bodies.

The others, I didn’t look, I didn’t want to. But when they were in the garage, when it was cold, I went there and covered them with a blanket

The death she described the most clearly is the first one, in 1989. She said she smothered the baby boy with sheets, placed him in a trash bag that she had prepared in advance, and put the bag in her wardrobe, according to the documents.

The second killing happened when she was hospitalized for an epilepsy seizure. She said she gave birth in the hospital toilet, strangled the child, wrapped it in plastic sheeting and towels, placed it in the closet of her hospital room and then brought it back home, hidden in her garment bag.

Her memories became blurred for the following births and deaths. The last infanticide was in 2000.

Her husband and daughters say they noticed foul odours in various parts of the house, but thought they

came from sewage, or their dog, or even their father’s feet.

Cottrez was released from jail in 2012 after spending two years in temporary detention. In a January interview with a local newspaper, she said: “I never gave first names to the babies. The first one, I saw he was a baby boy. The others, I didn’t look, I didn’t want to. But when they were in the garage, when it was cold, I went there and covered them with a blanket. ”

The verdict is expected next Thursday.