The son of Sophie Toscan du Plantier has said he regrets that Ian Bailey has not been present for his murder trial at the Criminal Court of Paris.
Pierre-Louis Baudey-Vignaud described the French proceedings as "democracy at work" and said that some "input from the media" had been "insulting" to his mother.
He referred to a man seated at the back of the courtroom who, he said, was reporting back to Mr Bailey's legal team.
He asked the judge what was the point in having this man in court, when the accused himself had refused to appear or be represented. He said that using this man in this way showed a "lack of courage".
Mr Baudey-Vignaud told the court his mother lived on through him. He said that, at 38, he was almost the same age as Sophie had been when she died aged 39.
He said she had been a simple, loving, passionate woman who had given him an understanding of the sufferings of the world.
He described his mother's house in west Cork as a harsh and dry place. It was basic, he said, but comfortable.
He said this description was reflected in his mother. He said this was why she had chosen the holiday home near Schull.
She loved the wildness of the countryside, and the views out over the sea, he added.
Mr Baudey-Vignaud also talked about his mother's marriage to the successful French film director, Daniel Toscan du Plantier.
He said they both had strong personalities, and were vibrant and full of life. Their marriage had its ups and downs, he conceded, but he said theirs had been a romantic and deeply loving relationship.
He said his mother was not running away when she visited west Cork, but taking a break from her more public life in Paris.
Mr Baudey-Vignaud said he had kept his mother's home in Ireland because it reminded him of her spirit. He said he felt good there, and close to her. To him, the terrible thing that had befallen his mother had happened outside the house.
He said he hoped that by bringing this case, it would help make him and his family feel safe in Ireland, and he hoped that he would be happy to let his young daughter visit west Cork on her own when she was older.
Mr Baudey-Vignaud said he came to Ireland regularly, but in all those visits had never been asked by gardaí to testify about what had happened to his mother, or to tell them what kind of woman she had been.
He said that his family had been portrayed - by some - as a clan, but he said that what they really were was a loving and caring family.
Sophie Toscan du Plantier's brother, Bertrand Gazeau, told the court that within days of her death, the family were looking for answers.
When they came to Ireland after the murder, he said they were 'interrogated' by gardaí in a hotel. He said it was difficult but they wanted to know the truth of what had happened to Sophie.
An uncle of the victim, Michel Gazeau, described her as a woman with a beautiful smile, who was always curious, intelligent and brave.
He spoke of her courage in coming to west Cork alone, to an isolated house in the countryside, in opening the door to a killer in the middle of the night.
In an emotional statement to the court, Sophie's aunt, Marie Madeleine Opalka, said her niece was like Alice in Wonderland, and so different to all the other women Daniel Toscan du Plantier had been with in the past.
She said Sophie was beautiful without even trying to be.
She told the court her niece should have been here with them now, walking freely. She said for the family and for all who knew her, it was important that justice be done.
Under French law, the families of victims can become civil parties in a case, thereby acting as plaintiffs with their own legal team during a trial. They can ask questions or direct lines of inquiry during the proceedings.
Ian Bailey is being tried in absentia at the Criminal Court of Paris for the murder of the French film producer in west Cork more than 22 years ago.
The 62-year-old, with an address at The Prairie, Toormore, in Co Cork, has never been charged in Ireland in connection with the death of the mother-of-one, and has repeatedly denied any involvement in her killing.
He was twice arrested and questioned by gardaí - in February 1997 and January 1998 - but was released without charge on both occasions.
Mr Bailey's solicitor has dismissed the proceedings in Paris as a show trial and claims they are invalid."
Bailey's personality 'on the borderline', trial hears
Earlier, the trial was told that the accused appeared to have the psychological traits of someone who was "on the borderline".
A psychiatrist and psychologist were asked to compile a report on the personality of Mr Bailey in May 2014.
They never met him and their analysis was based on his original interviews with gardaí and personal diaries he had written in the 1990s.
Presiding judge Frederique Aline, told the court that two experts - Dr Jean Michel Masson and Katy Lorenzo-Regreny - had concluded that they believed Mr Bailey was narcissistic, violent, impulsive, egocentric, and had a great desire to be recognised.
They also believed he had a "perfect mastery of himself".
The experts said Mr Bailey's personality traits were often seen in people who were diagnosed as being "on the borderline", but "without necessarily being psychotic".
The judge also referred to a diary entry in which Mr Bailey allegedly wrote about having assaulted his partner, Jules Thomas, so badly that she needed hospital treatment. He said he had been drinking heavily before the assault, including a bottle of whiskey, two pints, wine and several glasses of tequila.
Testimony from Ms Thomas was also read to the court from interviews she had given to the original garda investigation after Mr Bailey was arrested for questioning in February 1997.
She said she had been out having drinks with Mr Bailey in Schull on the night of the murder.
The couple left the pub and on the way home stopped by a local viewing point, Hunts Hill.
Ms Thomas told gardaí that Mr Bailey had gotten out of the car to look at the moon.
She said he came back to the car and they went home and went to bed.
In that interview she told gardaí that Mr Bailey had not gotten up during the night, as far as she was aware.
But the court was also told about another interview where, under questioning, Ms Thomas told gardaí that she remembered Mr Bailey tossing and turning in bed that night.
She said he got up at some point, but she fell asleep. She said she woke up at about 9am when Mr Bailey brought her a coffee in bed.
Ms Thomas said she noticed he had what looked like a fresh scratch on his forehead.
The court was told Ms Thomas admitted at this time, under questioning, that there did seem to be evidence to suggest that Mr Bailey might have been the killer.
Ms Thomas also told gardaí that in the car at Hunts Hill, Mr Bailey had told her he had had a 'sense of foreboding' when looking at the view.
And he said he thought he had seen a light on at Sophie Toscan du Plantier's neighbour's house.
The court was also told about evidence from several witnesses who claimed they had seen Mr Bailey with scratches on his arms and an injury on his forehead after the victim's body was discovered on 23 December 1996.
Others said they had seen Mr Bailey in the Galley pub the previous night and said they did not remember seeing scratches then.
Mr Bailey later told gardaí he had sustained these marks while cutting a Christmas tree, and killing a turkey.
The judge said a local farmer called Ian O'Driscoll had told gardaí he had seen Ian Bailey dragging a Christmas tree somewhere between the home he shared with his partner and her mother's home some time on 22 December.
