Le Figaro Nantes
To discover
Follow all the news of the city of Nantes
In the room of the Nantes criminal court, late Monday afternoon, the wife, children, brothers and sisters, cousins, a close friend of Frédéric S., killed in a road accident in the night of February 7 to 8 in Sainte-Luce-sur-Loire, are seated next to each other.
At the beginning of the session, the president made a point of addressing them a word.
This hearing will be “
perhaps far from their hopes, far from their expectations
” and “
is not intended to live up to their sentence
”.
The three years of imprisonment, including one year, which Hugo M. received, this “
unintentional murderer
” in the words of the prosecutor Thierry Rolland, will certainly not come to cure their pain.
Read alsoWhat the speed of justice reveals in the Palmade case
The 26-year-old was tried on Monday for manslaughter aggravated by three circumstances.
In a state of intoxication (2.15g / l of alcohol in the blood), positive for cocaine and cannabis and driving at least 115km / h (on a road limited to 70), he had struck from the rear a month ago the car of a 63-year-old Semitan agent, who was coming home from work.
The Peugeot 308 had been thrown 30 meters and the emergency services had transported the driver in a state of absolute emergency.
He died the following evening from his injuries.
"Never again"
During the judgment, several feelings crossed the courtroom.
Between the sadness of the family, the anger of the prosecutor, the repentance of the defendant, the atmosphere was heavy.
At the bar, dressed in black sneakers, jeans, and a bomber jacket, and after getting up from the bench where he had isolated himself, Hugo M. replied in a choked voice to the president: “
Yes, I recognize the facts
”.
Then made his mea culpa: "
even if it's hard, I want to apologize because I destroyed a family.
It is unforgivable
”.
Words he repeated several times, adding that he had also "
wasted his life
".
The one he especially broke is that of a family of blood and heart, united.
“
His wife should have celebrated their 40th anniversary with her husband on December 31, 2023
,” said Maître Houssin during his argument.
She said the couple had bought a house four years ago to enjoy their retirement together.
Frédéric S., father of a family of seven children, had “
a big heart like that
”.
A driver for 20 years at TAN, this much appreciated man "
was turned towards others
", so much so that he had made a wish to donate his organs.
Due to the violence of the shock, this was not possible.
"
It's a second betrayal
," insisted the representative of the civil parties.
Read alsoPierre Palmade accident: driving after using drugs, this scourge still underestimated
“
The main deep desire of the family is never again.
A real awareness
, “said the lawyer, while pointing to the”
lack of responsibility
“of the defendant.
"
When we hear him say that he took a rail of coke and that he should perhaps have slept elsewhere
", this is "
additional violence
".
Is there anyone in this country who doesn't know that speed plus alcohol plus narcotics equals danger of death?
Thierry Rolland, prosecutor
“
Is there anyone in this country who doesn't know that speed plus alcohol plus narcotics equals danger of death?
“, got carried away the prosecutor Thierry Rolland, raising his voice, after recalling with pedagogy the causes of road accidents.
“
With a cocktail of alcohol and narcotics, the risk of a fatal accident is multiplied by 29
”.
The representative of the public prosecutor deplored inconsistencies in the defendant's account.
“
You explained that the car had rolled over.
Then you came out that the lights were turning green
, ”he pointed out, so the expertise showed that the driver was stationary, in his line.
“
A little decency.
So what's your explanation?
“, he was annoyed.
The accused gave
“vague memories”
of the collision.
Similarly, the prosecutor asked him how long the gendarmerie is from his home.
Response from the interested party: “
15 mins on foot, 10 mins by bike
”.
“
Why didn't you go and report you?
".
Wounded, Hugo M. had left the hospital the next day on his own: “
I was given permission to leave
” he justified himself, questioned a few minutes earlier by the president about his “
fugue
”.
He was arrested at home on February 9 in Carquefou.
He too will have to live with a dead man on his conscience.
Maître Manoukian, defense lawyer
Thierry Rolland denounced an "
exceptionally serious fact committed [...] There is far too much indulgence with regard to people who commit this type of offense
".
Before asking for four to five years' imprisonment, the confiscation of his crushed vehicle (so that the defendant does not have the idea of reselling the spare parts), or even the cancellation of the driving license and the prohibition of iron before a certain time.
Master Manoukian, in a calm tone, while hearing the "
suffering
" of the family and the "
anger
" of the prosecutor, defended his client.
"
Suffering and anger can lead to a decision of revenge
."
He called for the profile of this young person to be taken into account, who "
hasn't been talked about much
" in the past.
Hugo M. had already been the subject of a reminder to the law for the use of narcotics but had never been convicted.
He also refuted any "
concealment
" on the part of his client: "
he does not flee, does not elude
" and described him as "
someone who assumes his behavior
".
It is also "
someone who works
» and which resumed its mission of assembling heat pumps on a site in Nantes.
“
He will also have to live with a death on his conscience
”.
Read alsoPierre Palmade case: Gérald Darmanin proposes the withdrawal of the license in the event of driving under narcotics
After deliberation, the one who was found guilty was sentenced to three years in prison, two of which were suspended on probation.
He has an obligation to treat his addiction, which he admitted during the trial.
The court also revoked his license and banned him from retaking it for three years.
During this same period of time, he will not have the right to drive another motor vehicle.
As for his Peugeot 207, it was confiscated.
On the other hand, there was no immediate warrant of deposit.
The sentence may be adjusted after an interview with an examining magistrate.
Hugo M. went home, after greeting his friends who had come to surround him at the hearing.
This morning, the prosecution told Le
Figaro
to appeal this decision.