Sentences of seven to twenty years in prison were required on Wednesday June 22 in Lyon against eight men tried at the Assizes for their alleged participation in a spectacular attempted attack on an armored van in 2017, in Saint-Chamond (Loire).
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The verdict is expected Friday at the end of the day.
“
Welcome to the world of organized crime
,” declared Advocate General Eric Mazaud immediately in his indictment, castigating before the jurors a universe where “
in principle we don't talk, we don't swing
”.
According to the magistrate, the systematic denials of the accused, "
even on the most confusing elements
", would be the mark of organized crime specific to this case, which has been on trial since June 15.
Originally from the Lyon region, Saint-Etienne and the south of France, the eight defendants, four of whom appear free, are being prosecuted to varying degrees for "
attempted robbery with a weapon, attempted murder, possession of weapons and explosive substance and criminal association
”.
The Court thus examined the role of each of them, five of whom are accused of having participated directly in the attack, on the morning of September 25, 2017 in front of the Caisse d'Épargne de Saint-Chamond, north-east of Saint- Etienne.
"Top of the Basket"
The twenty years of criminal imprisonment, accompanied by a security period of two thirds of the sentence, were claimed against two of them, aged 57 and 44.
The first, already sentenced for escape and kidnapping, is "
in the top of the basket of organized banditry
" according to Mr. Mazaud, who recalled the proximity of the latter with the former Montpellier robber Pascal Payet.
The second is also a legal recidivism after a 14-year prison sentence for robbery in 2008 in Ain.
Sentences of 7 years, 9 years, 12 years and 15 years, the latter targeting a member of the team, already known to justice and having provided a car in the attempted robbery, were also required.
A final one was left to the discretion of the Court.
On the day of the incident, the crew of a Loomis fund transport company van had its way blocked by two cars.
The conveyors had managed to force the dam under the fire of the attackers, who did not cause any injuries.
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Five of the eight accused were arrested in February 2018 after meticulous telephony, cross-checking and surveillance by the judicial police, who had tracked them from a suspicious box in Saint-Etienne containing weapons, ammunition and protective vests. -balls.
From the start, the defendants have denied any involvement in the attempted robbery, indicating that they had hidden material for third parties.
Three other alleged accomplices had been dismissed for criminal association, including a former robber from Var, who had participated in the escape in 2003 of Pascal Payet and who is accused of having provided explosives to the team.
