Like an angel rising to heaven, a cloud of blue and white balloons flies off to Champigny-sur-Marne (Val-de-Marne), this Sunday afternoon, from the Clos-des-Perroquets residence.
A white march brought together nearly 700 people who came to say a final goodbye to Matteo, 17, killed with a stab in the heart by a 16-year-old youngster following a dispute, Tuesday May 18 at around 6:45 p.m. , at this precise location.
In the middle of the crowd stands Cindy, a little bit of a woman of impressive dignity.
Matteo was his only son, “a smile, an empathy, a listening, an altruism”.
This mother's azure blue eyes are red with tears.
But when it comes time to speak at the end of the walk, his voice does not falter.
And his words upset the assembly.
"Part of me is dead"
“When you lose your child, murdered with an 11 cm blade in the heart, there are no words to describe what it feels like. Imagine a mom calling her son to ask him to help her run the groceries. He does not answer. Then two of his friends tell you that he was stabbed. You run and throw yourself at his bloodied body, shouting his name in hopes of making him react. During 1h30 of cardiac massage - how long 1h30 of cardiac massage ... - you have the feeling that your guts and heart are torn out with each breath. That day, it was not only Matteo who died. It's a part of me that's dead. If I am here today, it is to honor his memory. [...] I will fight for justice to be done to him. "
Champigny-sur-Marne, May 23, 2021. Cindy, Matteo's mother, spoke in front of the crowd.
LP / Marine Legrand
In the crowd, a friend of the boy is uneasy, overwhelmed with emotion.
A little further on, a young woman of 18 from Villiers-sur-Marne, also accuses the blow: “Matteo, it was the boyfriend of my boyfriend.
He was there the day it happened.
We are all extremely shocked.
It's a quiet area here.
We don't understand… ”
The suspect wallows in silence
The suspect, who fled after stabbing his victim, was indicted for murder and is currently in pre-trial detention.
He completely denied the facts during his first custody hearing and has since locked himself in complete silence, both in front of the police and the examining magistrate.
"I would like him to explain his act because he is walled in silence today," continues the young woman.
I would like to know if he realizes that he has taken a life, that he leaves a family without children.
Matteo's mother must need to hear him to grieve.
"
Champigny-sur-Marne, May 23, 2021. "An angel left too early", confide those close to Mattéo.
"Yellow" LP / Marine Legrand
In the crowd, we recognize two sisters and a brother of Marjorie, 17, killed with a stab in Ivry-sur-Seine on May 14.
This Saturday, it was they who organized a "yellow" march in memory of their sister, murdered in almost identical circumstances.
They came to tell Matteo's relatives that they are not alone in their pain.
To read also Ivry: "We want justice, not hatred", the tribute after the death of Marjorie
The mayor asks young people to "put away the knives"
Corinne, a Campinese, wanted to participate in the rally with her 10-year-old son.
“I explained to him what a white march is, that we should not do justice ourselves, that we can have differences with people but that it should never be resolved by violence.
What this teenager did is inexplicable and unforgivable.
"
A psychological support unit has been opened in the neighborhood.
Already 80 people showed up there, announces the city.
The mayor of Champigny, Laurent Jeanne (Libres!), Also addressed the public: “What we experienced on Tuesday evening was a horror.
Matteo was a wonderful child.
He left much too early.
All I ask of you, because there are a lot of young people here, is to put away the knives.
Thank you for Matteo ”.