Police arrest twins in rape investigation

By IAN SPARKS
Published on 11/02/2013 00:00

Twin brothers have both been arrested for a series of six rapes in France – because police don’t know which is their prime suspect.

The 25-year-old pair share virtually identical DNA, meaning it could take weeks for experts to identify which one was at the scene of the crimes. One of the brothers – named only as Elwin and Yohan – is suspected of raping six women over three months in the hallway of a block of flats in Marseille last year.

The victims have identified photos of the twins, without being able to tell which one was their attacker. One of the pair was also caught on a CCTV camera, but again both police and the victims can not tell which brother it is.

Both men, who are unemployed delivery drivers, deny the offences committed between September and December 2012. Marseille police chief Emmanual Kiehl yesterday said: “It is a highly unusual affair.

“This pair have almost identical genetic codes. It is possible to tell them apart but it could take weeks and we do not have the facilities here in Marseille.

“There are very slight differences in their DNA formed as they were developing in the womb. It could take thousands of separate tests before we know which one of them may be guilty.

“Meanwhile, both are being held in custody on a special warrant due to the rare nature of the situation.”

Meanwhile police in Marseille are also holding two 21-year-old Corsican twins named Marc and Dominique Pantalacci, after discovering a cache of arms and drugs in a lock-up garage that contained their DNA.