It is by walking on eggshells that the three defendants advance to the bar of the court of Senlis (Oise) this Monday afternoon. They know it, the case that brings them to justice has been highly publicized, in an ultra-tense context, that of the hunt, which has already experienced several incidents in the department.
The facts took place in Chantilly station, in January 2021. That day, traffic had to be interrupted for more than two hours, leading to the cancellation of about fifteen trains, because of the eruption on the rails of a deer. The animal was chased by the pack of dogs of the Rallye des Trois Forêts.
" READ ALSO Pursued by hunters, a deer paralyzes SNCF traffic in Chantilly
In front of the judges, there is Eric N., biter - the one who follows the dogs and leads the hunt - and employee of the association, alongside Hervé T., the boatswain during this hunt but also former president of the veneurs, as well as Bernard S., judged as legal representative. In his submissions, the prosecutor, Michel Mazars, asked for fines of 1,500 euros suspended for the first two and 10,000 euros fine for the Rallye des Trois Forêts. The deliberations will be delivered on June 26.
Monday's debates mainly revolved around the notion of "proximity" between the place where the hunt took place and the limits of the city. Because the veneurs do not have the right to pursue a beast in urban areas and must stop before the first dwellings.
That day, before overflowing into the city center, the hunt took place in the woods. But it takes place only 300 m from the Edmond-Rostand high school, where Eric N. tried to shoot the beast before changing his mind because of cyclists in his shooting range. And 600 m from the Cité du cheval train station. The question then becomes whether the hunt should have been stopped earlier. This could have prevented this incident.
Straight hunters in their boots
For the hunters, who did not express regret at the hearing, the rules were respected. And it would have been difficult, according to them, to do otherwise. "We were in the middle of the forest, the buildings were not visible," defends Eric N. For Bernard S., their responsibility does not have to be engaged: "We did everything necessary to avoid this incident." Comments supported by their lawyers who will both ask for the release.
" READ ALSO In Chantilly, the "unknown deer" launches the campaign of ecologists at the regional
Not enough to convince the prosecutor for whom all precautions were not taken that day. "It was above all the continuation of a series of criminal offences that led to this situation. It's scary to see that they are abdicating all responsibility. »
A demonstration supported by the lawyer of the SPA, who is a civil party in the same way as the SNCF. "A deer can go from 60 to 80 km/h, so at the time of shooting, it is 17 seconds from the school and 30 seconds from the station. The notion of proximity was clearly flouted. »