The Lyon prosecutor's office said on Saturday that it had opened investigations following incidents that marked the end of a trial at the assizes the day before, in particular concerning a gesture by the victim's brother, which at least one witness would have perceived as a hello nazi.
The incidents occurred on Friday evening after 24-year-old Youcef Tebbal was sentenced to 12 years in prison for running over and killing 22-year-old Axelle Dorier in a car that was dragged more than 800 meters in July 2020 in Lyons.
"
One of the family members of the victim of the crime on trial, who was heard this (Saturday) morning, broke a window and made a gesture for which the investigations are continuing to determine the exact nature
", explained to the AFP the prosecution, confirming information from the regional daily Le Progrès.
This investigation was opened for "
public provocation to hatred or violence
" and for "
voluntary damage
", said the prosecution.
Shortly after the statement of the verdict, a woman standing on the side of the families of the defendants had cried then made a faintness.
Visibly not supporting the scene, one of Axelle Dorier's brothers then headed for an exit from the courtroom.
On the doorstep, he turned around before insulting the woman, raising his arm, noted an AFP journalist.
This gesture was publicly interpreted as a Nazi salute by at least one witness.
Read alsoDeath of Axelle Dorier, dragged over 800 meters in Lyon: anger and incidents after the verdict
“
I asked him if he had done that (
note: a Nazi salute
).
He replied: Never!
and that he had this gesture to say Get the hell out of me!
“, declared to AFP the lawyer of the young man, Me Gabriel Versini-Bullara, who did not see the scene.
He then broke "
a window with his fist
" in a corridor adjoining the courtroom, testified defense lawyer David Metaxas, present in the room.
In addition, a person was referred for an immediate appearance, after beatings on police officers in the waiting room, according to the prosecution.
The identity group Les Remparts has several times seized on the death of Axelle Dorier, through social networks in particular.
A photo posted on his Twitter account showed around 15 activists behind a banner with racist connotations on Saturday, presumably taken on Friday after the trial outside the courthouse.