Steven Besson had confessed to the murder of Yohann Geoffray using a wooden log, in a fit of anger, while the 37-year-old man had, according to him, admitted an attraction for his companion.
The acts were allegedly committed on Sunday, July 1, 2018 in the town of Loulay (Charente-Maritime).
The naked and partially charred body of the victim, a 37-year-old marginal who lived in a caravan, was not discovered until three months later in a forest.
He bore the scars of abuse apparently inflicted with a screwdriver and a drill.
The confession of the main suspect in police custody could have sealed this criminal case.
But Steven Besson had retracted during his appearance before the examining magistrate, contesting any participation in the facts.
A line that he has continued to defend since then.
Friday, January 29 in the evening, at the end of three days of trial, the Assize Court of Charente-Maritime in Saintes finally pronounced the acquittal of Steven Besson, now aged 30.
"Many questions remain"
"The acquittal was justified as the accusation was weak and related to irrelevant evidence, recognizes Me Eva Lusteau, the lawyer for the civil parties.
My clients did not want conviction at all costs, but hoped for answers to their questions.
Regrettably, many questions remain after these three days of sitting for what is now an unresolved affair… ”.
For their part, the lawyers of Steven Besson, Mes Thibaut Kurzawa and Laure Mellier, can only welcome the decision rendered.
"In this case, many elements do not stick, had warned Me Kurzawa before the opening of the trial.
The instruction retains the motive for jealousy, but nowhere does it appear that the victim really had any plans for the accused's partner.
Then, the weapon or rather the weapons of the crime were not found and even the exact date of the commission of the facts is subject to discussion ”.