French court delays fraud trial for ex-premier Fillon French former prime minister Francois Fillon and his wife Penelope made a brief appearance in court today over claims they embezzled over one million euros in an alleged fake-jobs fraud. The couple made no statement as they entered the Paris courthouse under police escort, as dozens of lawyers massed outside in the latest protest over plans to merge their pension scheme into a single system. The eagerly-awaited trial of the former presidential hopeful and his wife had been due to start today but the court granted their request to delay until Wednesday in solidarity with the lawyers' strike.\\n IMAGES