Crowded courtroom compared to concert

A police officer overseeing the entrance to the courtroom remarked, "It's worse than a Celine Dion concert," describing the crowded scene at the Paris court where four rooms have been allocated for immediate trials since Monday. The courtroom is filled with relatives of the accused, curious onlookers, law students, journalism students, and others. Some of the accused, recently released from police custody and undergoing their first trial, appear astonished by the large number of spectators. Judge Mélanie Belot, who resembles Audrey Tautou, explained that justice is rendered in the name of the French people, and thus everyone can attend the hearing. However, the proceedings are described as chaotic, with 16 people tried in one day in courtroom 2.05. A defense lawyer handling multiple clients said they had not been able to go to the bathroom for a while, and the judge sympathized.

Justice system struggles with deadlines

The justice system is reportedly overwhelmed and unable to respect deadlines. According to procedure, an accused person must be presented to a judge no later than twenty hours after the end of their police custody. One accused was not presented on time and was therefore released and tried on another day. The accused, many of whom were previously seen in media footage as part of looting groups, now appear as individuals, some of them young men who have become employees, fathers, high school students, or are homeless.

Young accused faces mental health concerns

One accused, 23 years old and from Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire, arrived in France at age 13 and is currently homeless. He is being prosecuted for the destruction of a Longines watch shop window with an iron bar. His criminal record includes two mentions for aggravated theft and possession of narcotics as a minor. His lawyer requested a psychiatric evaluation, as the accused is bipolar and does not understand what is happening. The judge accepted the request and adjourned the case, with the evaluation scheduled for December 23. The accused remains incarcerated until then.

Repeat offender gets probation

Another accused, 30 years old and a forklift operator from Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, is a repeat offender who has already served 10 months under electronic monitoring for attempted fraud. He was arrested for kicking a shop window and attempting theft with accomplices. He admitted to giving the window one or two kicks, claiming the window was already damaged. He invoked the effect of the group and mentioned his girlfriend is pregnant. The judge noted that being out at 3 am was not ideal for a future father. The prosecutor argued that the accused's behavior contradicted his words and requested 12 months of imprisonment and 6 months of probation. The accused received 12 months of probation with an electronic tag and 6 months of conditional probation.

Security agent faces job consequences

Ryad, a 26-year-old security agent from Fréjus, was arrested for throwing an alcohol bottle at the police and a shoe. He claimed he was influenced by the crowd and used the bottle to treat an injured person. He filmed inside a vandalized Monoprix and sent messages on Snapchat. The judge read statements such as "People, do the shopping!" or "Where are the candies, I want candies!" Ryad explained he wanted to make a TikTok video but did not steal candies. He was prohibited from coming to Paris for two years and will likely have to change jobs due to the conviction being recorded in his record.

Young man gets lighter sentence

Louis-Sékou, 22 years old, was prosecuted for throwing a brick at a police officer and shouting an insult. His mother was present and expressed her anger and desperation. He admitted to picking up the brick and throwing it, and apologized. The prosecutor requested 15 months of probation and community service, but the accused received 8 months of probation and an 800 euro fine.

Lack of evidence leads to no charges

Mohamed, 26 years old and from Algeria, was being prosecuted for theft in the context of the weekend's looting. The prosecutor requested prison and a ban from the territory, but Mohamed was not prosecuted due to lack of evidence. He is sitting due to a knee injury and is in an irregular situation.

New accused face delayed proceedings

Three new accused faced the judge, but the judges did not have time to read their files. It was known that "the Louis Vuitton company is the civil party in this case." Judge Mélanie Belot lamented the inability to judge them properly and adjourned the case. The accused, none of whom had a criminal record, would be under judicial supervision with a ban on coming to Paris until their trial on December 29. One of the accused, an 18-year-old from Guadeloupe, said he did not understand what his lawyer said, prompting the lawyer to look up at the ceiling and hit his forehead.