The former French Formula 1 driver Jean Alesi was released Thursday by the criminal court of Nîmes, where he was tried for having exploded - with a big firecracker - the window of the office of his ex-brother-in-law, a "
idiocy
” which he admitted in court.
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The former Ferrari driver, 58, and his son Guiliano, 23, had been sent to court "
for damage to the property of others by a means dangerous to people, acts committed in the context of a conflict family
”.
These took place on December 19, 2021 in the town of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, in the Gard, where the ex-Ferrari driver has a house.
The police had been called around 10:00 p.m. by the neighborhood, worried by the sound of an explosion.
Thanks to the plate number noted by a neighbor, the police were able to determine that the vehicle seen on the spot before driving away with all lights off belonged to José Alesi, the brother of the ex-pilot.
The former Scuderia driver (1991-1995) went to the police station the next day, where he cleared his brother, explaining that it was he who was in the car, with his son and a friend. of this one, and that he himself had "
stuck a + big firework bought in Italy + in the frame of a window of the architect's office of his brother-in-law
".
On Thursday, he again “
totally
” acknowledged the facts.
“
I apologize because I have never had such an embarrassing situation in my life.
This is nonsense
,” he said in court.
“
When it farted, I was extremely shocked at the power.
The intention was to laugh
“by making a joke to the former companion of his sister, he explained, assuring not to be in dispute with him.
Read also“Bad joke” or family dispute?
Ex-F1 driver Jean Alesi in custody
“
There is a family tradition of blowing up firecrackers when you are happy, and Jean Alesi was in immense joy that evening to find his son after months of separation
” because of the Covid, pleaded his lawyer , Mr. Thibaut de Montbrial.
The prosecutor also considered that it was a "
bad joke
" and noted that Jean Alesi had compensated the victim for the costs incurred.
In its judgment, the court noted "
the absence of intentional element
" to commit an offense and acquitted Jean Alesi and his son.