Ian Bailey goes on trial in France today in a three-judge process that is expected to continue all week.
The 61 year old who has always denied any involvement in the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in Cork, will not be attending.
French prosecutors will examine the death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in Cork in December 1996 during proceedings, which are expected to last until Friday.
A number of witnesses have been called to travel to Paris from West Cork to testify in the case but many are said to be unwilling to attend, and the French authorities have no power to compel them to do so.
Ian Bailey will not be attending and neither will his legal team.
Bailey's solicitor has stressed that his client has already been exonerated in Ireland and he's blasted this week's action as farcical and extremely unjust.
