Le Figaro Nice
The appeal trial for the July 14 attack will take place in Paris but also a little in Nice.
As during the first instance, the proceedings will once again be broadcast live in the Riviera capital,
Le Figaro
learns from several lawyers representing the civil parties, and confirming information from
Nice-Matin
.
A meeting to this effect was held last Friday at the Paris court.
This time, it will not be in the rooms of the “Acropolis” conference center since it is being demolished.
Former premises of the prison integration and probation service (Spip), to the west of the city, are mentioned.
The final choice of location will be specified in a few days, the president indicated to the various councils during this progress update.
A “webradio” should also be available and some of the victims could testify by videoconference from Nice, we learn.
For the lawyers and their clients, it was once again important that the hearing could be followed from the Côte d'Azur.
More than 2,500 civil parties had been formed - many of whom reside in the Alpes-Maritimes - and already nearly 200 people intend to take the stand once again.
“This is good news and an opening of comfort
,” underlined Ms. Virginie Le Roy, lawyer for the victims’ association “Promenade des Anges”.
Read alsoJuly 14 attack in Nice: the security aspect called into question in an audit, the investigation could be disorientated
Travelling expenses
For Jean-Claude Hubler of the “Life for Nice” association, reimbursements after the trip to the capital posed problems.
“Many cannot advance the costs, so it was important that this system was put back in place
,” he explains.
“They don’t want to be spectators, it’s also their trial
,” insists Me Méhana Mouhou, counsel for the association.
“Everyone approaches the trial in their own way
,” recalls Me Philippe Soussi, who represents many victims and who campaigned for this broadcast.
The two main convicts, Chokri Chafroud and Mohamed Ghraieb, were sentenced to 18 years in prison for “terrorist criminal conspiracy” in connection with their involvement in the ram truck attack on the Promenade des Anglais on July 14, 2016. The vehicle's mad rush killed 86 people and injured more than 450.
The driver, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, was shot dead.
The six other protagonists sentenced to between two and twelve years in prison had not decided to appeal.
This second trial will begin on April 22 and should last until June 14, or at most until the 17th, with hearings which will be held on two public holidays, May 8 and 20.
The first lasted three months and ended in December 2022. At the time, the broadcast did not attract crowds in the first days.
No more than a hundred people followed the proceedings remotely but more victims came for the important moments of the trial.
Based on the average number of people who came, a suitable room will be chosen.