On September 7, the Paris court of assizes began the trial of Loik Le Priol and Romain Bouvier for the murder and attempted murder of Federico Martin Aramburu, a former Argentine international rugby player. Aramburu was shot dead in Paris on March 19, 2022, and the trial is expected to last until September 25. This marks the first time the case is being reviewed in court, nearly four years after the incident, and has drawn significant public interest. The events leading to Aramburu’s death took place in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, near the Mabillon brasserie on the Boulevard Saint-Germain. Aramburu, 42, and his former teammate Shaun Hegarty, 38, were at the bar that evening. They were joined by Le Priol, 27, and Bouvier, 31, who were described as supporters of the far-right Groupe union défense (GUD), a group that was dissolved in June 2024. The men had planned to attend the France-England rugby match the following day as part of the Six Nations tournament. A fight broke out on the terrace of the Mabillon, reportedly after an argument between Le Priol and Hegarty. One account suggests that Le Priol confronted Hegarty for speaking disrespectfully to a neighbor. The situation escalated when Aramburu grabbed Le Priol’s hood, leading to a physical confrontation. The fight ended near a newspaper kiosk on the Boulevard Saint-Germain, with the two groups separated by the bar staff. Le Priol allegedly threatened to kill Aramburu and displayed a revolver and a "Police" armband. After the fight, Aramburu and Hegarty were heading to a nearby hotel to treat their injuries when they were pursued by Bouvier, who was in a car driven by Lyson Rochemire, Le Priol’s partner. Bouvier fired four shots, hitting Aramburu in the thigh and side. Le Priol arrived shortly after and also shot Aramburu, who died immediately from the wounds. Surveillance footage reportedly contradicts Bouvier’s claim that he had fired “deterrent shots to the ground.” Le Priol and Bouvier were arrested days after the incident. Le Priol was captured in Hungary as he was about to travel to Ukraine, while Bouvier was apprehended in Sablé-sur-Sarthe. Both were later charged with murder and attempted murder. Lyson Rochemire and Anthony S., a friend of Bouvier, were also brought to trial, facing charges of complicity in murder and harboring a criminal. The trial has drawn significant public attention, with some media outlets suggesting the incident might have been racially or xenophobically motivated. However, the defense of Bouvier, represented by Maître Sophie-Rey Gascon, denied these claims, stating that the case has been unnecessarily politicized and that Bouvier was not affiliated with any far-right group beyond his brief membership in GUD during law school. Aramburu’s death was a significant blow to the rugby community, particularly to his former club, Biarritz Olympique, which honored him with a mural at its stadium. Robert Rabagny, a former mascot of the club, described Aramburu as a warm and joyful figure who was deeply embedded in the community. The trial could result in life imprisonment for the defendants, with the possibility of appeal within 10 days of the verdict.