“I had a weapon for a few months. I couldn't tell you exactly when. But I got it following several disputes.”
Ilias Akoudad, standing in the dock, responds to the president of the court.
Faced with the Vaucluse assizes, the one who finally confessed to having killed the police officer Éric Masson, on May 5, 2021, however refutes having known that he was a police officer, as well as having shot his colleague Romain R. that day.
Today he must explain the facts which took place three years ago, at the deal point on rue du Râteau, where the paths of Brigadier Masson and Ilias Akoudad crossed.
“And what did you do with this weapon?”
, the president asks him.
“I don’t know exactly anymore.
It was total panic, I don’t know anymore
. ”
“It’s time to be precise, Mr. Akoudad
,” insists the president.
Akoudad then blurted out:
“I threw her into a manhole.
The same day, in the Rocade area.”
“I didn’t guess it was a baton”
“Try to describe to us this face-to-face meeting with Éric Masson
,” continues the president.
Akoudad replied:
“I saw this man arrive and like an idiot, I took out my gun.
I had it in my hand, and my arm was at my side.
And then, I don't remember how, we exchanged a word, and then Éric Masson put his left hand on my weapon to keep it on the ground.
On the other hand, I see that he is starting to take something black out of his bag.
I was trying to get my weapon out of his hand, and then when I saw this black thing, I didn't guess it was a baton, I panicked.
And I shot.”
Akoudad reiterates that he ignored the police status of the man who sought to apprehend him.
“If I had seen a police armband, I wouldn’t even have stopped in front of Masson.
I would have fled.
I don't go into contact with the police.
I do everything I can to avoid attracting their attention.”