The police custody of a man suspected of the murder of two homeless people, found dead on Wednesday, has been extended with a view to the opening of a judicial investigation for "
intentional homicides
", the Nice prosecutor's office announced on Monday.
This 48-year-old man, of Iranian origin, was arrested on Sunday in downtown Nice.
During his arrest, the police shot him, wounding him in the shoulder, while he brandished "
at least
" a bladed weapon.
The criminal record of this man, holder of a residence permit, "
does not bear any trace of any conviction
", specified in his press release Maud Marty, deputy public prosecutor of Nice.
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Spotted on Sunday by three police officers, the suspect had fled before turning towards a policewoman who was pursuing him and pulling out a machete and a knife, according to a police source.
The police officer then shot and hit the man in the shoulder, before he was arrested and transferred to the hospital.
Traces of stab wounds
During his hearing, the suspect admitted "
having had a heated argument with the two men found dead
", but denied "
having intended to kill them
", said Ms. Marty.
The suspect also indicated that one of the two men “
had previously injured him with an iron bar
”.
A search warrant had been issued against him after the discovery on Wednesday of the bodies of two men, lying on the ground, "
about ten meters
" from a house they were squatting, on the heights of Nice.
The two bodies showed "
traces of stab wounds
" and one of the two presented "
significant head trauma
", further indicated the prosecution, adding that autopsies "
allowing the causes of death to be determined with precision
" should be practiced by Tuesday.
