New trial appearances in Montpellier

A new round of immediate appearances took place on Wednesday, October 28, at the correctional court in Montpellier, four days after the second act of the social mobilization that shook the city center. Three men accused of alleged violence against police officers on October 24 appeared before the court.

Trial postponed due to psychiatric evaluation

The trial of the defendant featured in the video from the Tourism Office was postponed due to the lack of a valid psychiatric evaluation. The first defendant called to appear before the correctional court on Wednesday had his trial postponed. He is accused of inflicting violence that did not result in work incapacity on police officers by throwing stones and pinecones at them.

Alleged cooperation with far-right group

This young man appears in a video taken near the Montpellier Tourism Office, a scene that, according to human rights defense organizations, would show cooperation between law enforcement and a far-right militia. However, neither the defendant, who has been previously convicted multiple times for violence against law enforcement personnel, nor his lawyer could elaborate further at the bench on Wednesday.

Psychiatric evaluation required

The trial was postponed to December 2. Indeed, this 23-year-old man, who has suffered from bipolar disorder since childhood, will require a psychiatric evaluation before the alleged acts can be judged on their merits. Although this Hérault resident, recognized as disabled and under reinforced guardianship, has met with an expert since his arrest, it has not been determined whether or not there was an impairment or abolition of his discernment at the time of the incident.

Court cannot proceed without evaluation

"The court cannot proceed without this evaluation," the president reminded. It remained only to determine whether, pending his next appearance, the defendant, who was released from prison in July, should be returned to provisional detention. The prosecutor's representative requested his return to prison.

Concerns about demonstrations

"It would not be appropriate for Mr. to be found at the location of a demonstration," the magistrate indicated, recalling that several demonstrations were planned in the coming weeks. She also recalled that the man had previously missed judicial appointments. The defendant, who admitted to consuming cannabis but "not alcohol," tried to defend himself to avoid prison.

Defendant seeks to work normally

"I do not intend to participate in any further demonstrations," he explained, adding that he had found a job and now wished to work "normally." Ultimately, the court decided to keep the young man in custody. "I am his mother, can I say goodbye to him?" exclaimed a woman in the public, as a young woman suddenly approached the defendant before being moved aside by the police.

Defendant with clean record on trial

A defendant with a clean criminal record was tried for throwing a stone at a national police vehicle. A second defendant, in his early twenties, is accused of throwing a stone at a national police vehicle at 10:40 PM on October 24 in the area of Verdun Street. A stone about twenty centimeters in size, details the trainee cook, making a gesture with both hands to describe the size of the projectile.

Stone hits police vehicle

This stone, which he says he picked up from the ground, landed on a door of the vehicle in which several police officers were present. Since his arrest, this young man with a clean criminal record has been in provisional detention, in conditions he considers particularly difficult, mentioning notably the absence of a mattress, "cockroaches," and "bed bugs."

Defendant attended demonstration

He says he attended the demonstration that day to accompany "medics," people who assist injured demonstrators by distributing masks and physiological saline. He recounts that the police used tear gas and that one of his colleagues received a grenade "on his shoulder." He says he later recognized the officer, or at least the vehicle of the officer who threw the grenade on his colleague.

Defendant admits guilt

"That does not justify my actions. It remains a complete stupidity," the young man, who was dressed in black and wearing a mask to avoid identification at the time, confided. "I was nervous," he continued. After attempting to flee, the young man was arrested without incident.

No injuries reported

"I clearly did not want to cause harm," the Hérault resident assured. The police officers targeted that night were not injured. The car was slightly damaged. However, the victims say they were shocked. The defendant, calm and composed, admits to the acts attributed to him throughout his appearance.

Lawyer calls act serious

"He deliberately shot at police officers, it is a deliberate and serious act," however, the lawyer for the victims assured. On the other hand, the prosecutor's representative praised the defendant's admission of the facts but emphasized the seriousness of his act.

Sentence imposed

"Demonstrating is a fundamental right. However, it is unacceptable for police officers to suffer violence. I do not believe that throwing a stone is demonstrating," she assured before requesting six months in prison with a suspended sentence for this young man with a clean record.

Defendant regrets actions

"It was not something that should have been done. In no case did I intend to harm a human being," the defendant confided. His lawyer, Hocine Baghdadi, said he was "terribly angry" on Wednesday at the conditions imposed on his client since his arrest.

Sentence finalized

"The profile of my client has nothing to do with someone who needs a probationary period," he assured. The court finally sentenced this young man to four months in prison with a suspended sentence. He also received a 200 euro fine for the damage caused to the police vehicle.

Another defendant on trial

A young man with a clean criminal record was tried for throwing a stone toward a police car without hitting it. The third demonstrator who appeared before the correctional court on Wednesday is accused of having also thrown a stone at a national police vehicle, in which, again, several police officers were present.

Stone missed the vehicle

However, unlike the defendant who preceded him before the court, he did not manage, however, to hit the vehicle. Wearing a black jacket and wearing a ski mask and a construction respirator mask to protect himself from tear gas at the time, he was quickly arrested by members of law enforcement.

Defendant regrets actions

"I had time to think these past four days," explained this 23-year-old unemployed man with a clean criminal record. "I regret," specified this Hérault resident, who was under the influence of alcohol at the time. "I did not intend to injure or break anything. But it could have. The act was not thoughtful."

Prosecutor demands prison

The prosecutor's representative once again reminded that it was "unacceptable" for law enforcement to suffer violence. Although the police car was not hit, "there was an intention and a stone was thrown," continued the magistrate, before requesting six months in prison with a suspended sentence against this 23-year-old man.

Lawyer argues for leniency

His lawyer, Me Sidonie Amiot, argued, as her colleague previously, for the disproportionate treatment imposed on her client in recent days. "He experienced for the first time in his life a strong arrest, a detention, a referral to the prosecutor, (...) and especially an incarceration," she assured.

Lawyer requests reclassification

"It has been two days since he has been in provisional detention. While he has never been convicted, he has never been placed in custody. What is being reproached to him is that he threw a stone at a police vehicle. That is this case. And only that," she added, reminding that no victim has become a civil party in this case.

Sentence finalized

The lawyer also requested that the case be reclassified as "attempted damage" rather than "violence against a national police officer." "No more, no less," assured Me Sidonie Samiot, pointing out "the low severity of the facts." The young demonstrator finally received two months in prison with a suspended sentence, closing, on Wednesday, this new session of immediate appearances with demonstrations in the background.