The investigation into the security conditions of the Promenade des Anglais on the evening of the attack of July 14, 2016 in Nice was moved this Thursday to Marseille, AFP learned from the prosecution and a lawyer.
In January, the public prosecutor of Nice, Damien Martinelli, explained that he had requested this change of scenery for the benefit of the specialized center of Marseille, which has more resources for the still necessary investigations and to manage the hundreds of civil parties.
The civil parties have been demanding for years a trial around the security measures taken by the prefectural and municipal authorities ahead of the festival, which they consider very insufficient.
In addition, they believe that possible local obstacles have slowed down the investigation.
All parties involved in the case now have five days to appeal the decision, but such an appeal is unlikely and magistrates in Marseille should soon tackle this aspect of the case of the attack which left 86 dead and more 400 injured.
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The City of Nice satisfied
The trial into the attack itself, before the special assize court in Paris, led to sentences of two to 18 years' imprisonment against eight accomplices of the author, who was killed by police that evening of the attack.
An appeal trial is due to begin in April.
As part of the judicial information on the security aspect, four people were placed under assisted witness status, including the former prefect Adolphe Colrat and the mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi (Horizons), at the time first deputy responsible for Security.
In January, the victims' association Promenade des Anges welcomed the change of scenery project as
"an extraordinary breath of fresh air"
, more than seven years after the attack.
“It was the expected decision”
, commented this Thursday Mr. Archibald Celeyron, lawyer for the city of Nice, specifying that the city was not opposed to the change of scenery.
“Let us hope that the new jurisdiction will rely on the colossal investigation carried out so far by Nice magistrates and which demonstrated that the only person responsible for this Islamist terrorist attack is the terrorist himself
,” he added.
“What was initially an investigation based on legitimate questions must not become the search for someone responsible at all costs
,” he insisted.