The former legionnaire who had already been found innocent of the murder of his attacker, was once again acquitted by the court of appeal on Friday, June 18.
The Court of Appeal recognized self-defense, and rejected the accusations of "
violence resulting in death without intention of giving it
".
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Seven years ago, in 2014, a legionnaire and his companion were accosted by a dealer Gare du Nord, in Paris. The discussion had escalated when the man had attacked the young woman. The dealer had pulled out a knife and stabbed the soldier in the hand, who had managed to snatch the weapon from the hands of his attacker. Following the confrontation, the assailant collapsed and died a few hours later in hospital from a thigh injury.
The drug dealer, known to the police and on the run for having evaded the conditions for the adjustment of his sentence, had already been convicted of armed violence.
He was under the influence of alcohol and cannabis at the time of the facts and on the run, since being on day parole, he had not gone to the center where he was to spend the night.
Self-defense recognized
The defense defended the absence of a hit.
According to her, the victim impaled himself on the knife that the soldier had torn from the hands of his attacker.
The accused maintained that he had not struck any blows but had warned himself, knife still in hand, to protect himself.
The victim fatally injured himself by kicking his knees.
This thesis, accepted by the Assize Court at first instance, was not accepted by the Court of Appeal, which however recognized self-defense.
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For Me Henri de Beauregard, who defended with Me Mathieu Brochier the accused, the latter "
had his hand pierced through and through, and an aggressor who kept coming back. He did the best he could, with the sole desire to protect himself and stop the assaults
”. According to his lawyer, today, "
he has repeatedly said that no matter how he reviews the situation, he does not see how he could have done otherwise
."
Me Henri de Beauregard puts forward the probity of his client, attested according to him, by the confidence that his superiors had in this never condemned legionnaire, and proved by the deposition in full uniform of his captain. "
We can only be surprised at the reversal of the situation between a defendant who is impeccable from every point of view, and a victim unfavorably known to the police services
". Seven years later, his innocence is established, for good.
