The Seine-Maritime criminal court on Wednesday sentenced to six years in prison a man accused of having violently assaulted a homosexual in 2018 in Rouen.
The decision was accompanied by a ban on possession of a weapon for five years.
The facts occurred in October 2018 at the exit of a nightclub.
A 34-year-old man had been severely beaten up, held captive, and suffered numerous homophobic slurs in a car he had entered of his own free will.
His two attackers had also extorted 800 euros from him.
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At the hearing, the second defendant, Jordan, admitted to having struck blows at the request of the main defendant, Mohamed, of whom he was "afraid", and to having uttered homophobic insults.
“My client reported threats against his family during the investigation to keep him quiet.
His record is blank, ”pleaded his lawyer Me Étienne Noël.
“In the car, the victim put his hand on my thigh at the crotch.
I do not know what happend to me.
I unleashed myself on him by beating him, ”Mohamed said, adding that it was he who“ dealt the most blows ”.
The victim's lawyer denied that his client had put his hand on the assailant's thigh.
"A journey made of violence, theft, extortion"
“The facts don't sound like my client.
Extortion yes, but unheard of violence no, ”Mohamed's lawyer said.
“My client is not homophobic but we do not dispute the homophobic nature of this attack.
He has 5 children.
He is divorced and homeless.
A complex personality, a broken man, ”she added.
The attorney general had requested seven years in prison, two of which were suspended against Mohamed.
“He is a seasoned delinquent with a chaotic journey, made of violence, theft, extortion.
He has an almost visceral intolerance to homosexuality, ”he declared.
Four years in prison, one of which was suspended, were handed down to Jordan, who was also banned from holding a weapon for five years.
The Advocate General had requested four years in prison against him, two of which were suspended.
“He is a tidy boy, inserted in life.
He had a role in withdrawal, he is not the leader, but he had plenty of time to resist, ”the Advocate General stressed.
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“The aggravating circumstance of homophobia must be retained against the two accused.
It was about extorting, sorry for the term, queers.
A clear and precise criminal project.
A trap ”, added the Advocate General.
The two men have ten days to appeal.
