The investigation chamber of the Angers Court of Appeal confirmed the dismissal order for two police officers implicated in a shooting of a defense bullet launcher (LBD) during a demonstration in 2016 in Rennes who had knocked out a student, we learned on Friday from a judicial source.
In its judgment dated February 22, which AFP was able to consult, the Chamber considers that the use of an LBD by the police, who were seeking at the time of the events to stop rocket fire, constitutes "a proportionate use
of strength
”.
Judicial back and forth
In April 2016, Jean-François Martin, a then 20-year-old student, lost sight of his left eye after being shot by an LBD.
The young man was taking part in a demonstration against the labor bill in Rennes, where incidents had broken out and injuries had been recorded in the ranks of the police as well as demonstrators.
An investigation had been opened by the Rennes prosecutor's office and entrusted to the IGPN.
Two police officers, who had used their weapon at the time of the injury suffered by Jean-François Martin, had been placed under the status of assisted witness for "willful violence resulting in permanent disability or mutilation by a person in charge of
authority public
”.
In May 2020, after four years of investigation, the investigating judge in charge of the case dismissed the case, the investigations having failed to identify, among the two police officers, the author of the shooting.
Jean-François Martin and his lawyer, Me Arié Alimi, had appealed the dismissal.
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In November 2021, the investigating chamber of the Rennes Court of Appeal ordered the referral to the criminal court of one of the police officers, for involuntary injuries resulting in an ITT of more than three months.
The police officer targeted by the dismissal and the public prosecutor's office had then lodged an appeal in cassation and the file had been referred to the investigating chamber of the Angers Court of Appeal.
“
The back and forth between the Court of Cassation and the investigating chamber show the uncertainty of justice in the face of police violence.
We will continue this fight with Jean-François and his family
, ”reacted Me Alimi, who intends to file a new appeal in cassation.