Justice has confirmed the responsibility of the elevator operator Otis in the drama which cost the life of the young Othmane, in October 2015 in Mantes-la-Jolie.
The Versailles Court of Appeal has just ordered the company, prosecuted for manslaughter, to a fine of € 60,000. A similar sentence was imposed in October 2018 by the Versailles Criminal Court.
Civil proceedings must now take place in order to estimate the amount of damages for the parents of the little boy who died at 7 years old. "Since the death of their child, family life has been suspended," said Charles Morel, lawyer for the parents of the young victim. This judgment satisfies us. Now they want to see the lessor condemned. ”
Blocked between the ground floor and the 1st floor
The boy died on October 10, 2015. He had gone out on a scooter ride but, not coming back, his family had started researching the neighborhood. He was finally found by his relatives in the elevator, trapped between the ground floor and the first floor of his building on rue Louis-Blériot. His neck was stuck between the door and the handlebars of his scooter and the child died suffocated. Even today, the circumstances that led to this appalling scenario remain unclear.
The magistrates however estimated that a dysfunction of the apparatus was at the origin of the drama. In addition, residents had noted recurring machine failures.
Otis has always defended itself from a lack of maintenance. The cabin had been inspected a few hours before the tragedy. During a previous hearing, which was particularly trying for the family, the elevator's lawyer pointed out the responsibility of the victim's relatives: "The law requires the presence of an adult under the age of 12," said Rémy. Douarre. If the child had not been alone, the accident might have occurred, but he probably would not have died. He also criticized the choice to drive the child to the hospital immediately rather than wait for help.
