Accused Murderer Marie Besnard

March 31, 1954 - Bordeaux, France - Accused of killing 12 people with arsenic, including her husband and her mother, MARIE BESNARD became famous as 'The Black Widow Of Loudun.' However Besnard benefited in some manner from each of the murders, thus providing the prosecution with a motive, aside from the poison, the prosecution had only circumstantial evidence against Besnard. Marie Besnard was acquitted on December 12, 1961. Pictured during her first court case, in front of her - the defender. (Credit Image: © KEYSTONE Pictures USA/ZUMAPRESS.com)