The 26-year-old man, who killed a young gendarme on Saturday evening while trying to escape traffic control in Lot-et-Garonne, was driving between 130 and 160 km / h without a license, the prosecutor said on Monday. Agen Manuella Garnier. "He was carrying 165 grams of a white powder which will have to be analyzed but which is probably cocaine," she stressed at a press conference. The magistrate added that no trace of braking had been detected.
The gendarmes had first tried in vain to stop a Renault Clio which was traveling at "excessive speed", then alerted another patrol of two gendarmes. They had then positioned their service vehicle "flashing beacon in operation, on departmental road 813 up to the town of Port-Sainte Marie", continued the prosecutor.
Attempt to escape
"When the fleeing vehicle arrived near the harrows, it suddenly moved to the left in order to avoid the interception device, in doing so it struck one of the two gendarmes who was on the side of the road. The shock was particularly severe. This gendarme died a few minutes later, "she said.
"After the impact, the vehicle fled (but) it had to stop 400 meters further due to the triggering of the airbags". He then tried to escape on foot before being arrested and placed in police custody.
"Originally from Lot-et-Garonne, without profession, (he) has already been sentenced three times, in particular for offenses against the legislation on narcotic drugs and (...) on road traffic", according to the prosecutor.
The perpetuity incurred
In police custody, the young man explained that he refused to stop "by the fact that he drove without a license, under the influence of drugs, but also by the fact that he had just acquired 150 g of cocaine. He claimed that he did not see the victim and that he thought the shock was due to the interception device. "
Even if the man contests "any intention of homicide", "a judicial investigation will be opened today (Monday) by the prosecution of the counts of voluntary homicide on person depositary of the public authority, refusal to comply aggravated by endangering the lives of others, driving without a license, illegal possession and transportation of narcotic drugs in a state of legal recidivism, "listed Manuella Garnier, according to whom" a warrant for the deposit will be required by the prosecution "for this man who faces life imprisonment.
