Meaux-Chauconin: a white march to obtain the truth about the death of a detainee

" No justice, no peace ".

Several hundred people took part on Sunday in a white march to the prison of Meaux (Seine-et-Marne) to demand "the truth" on the death of a 28-year-old prisoner, facts which are the subject of two inquiries, judicial and administrative.

Dressed in black T-shirts bearing the slogan "Justice for Jimony" and bloodied handcuffs, the demonstrators, including the anti-police violence activist Assa Traoré, marched in silence and in the cold to the entrance of the penitentiary center , where they chanted “We want the truth”.

Jimony Rousseau died Tuesday at Jossigny hospital, eight days after being transported there by the Samu in cardio-respiratory arrest.

In Meaux with Assa Traoré and Mamadou Camara to demand truth and justice for Jimony Rousseau ✊🏼 pic.twitter.com/q5lDZpYZwJ

- The Truth For Adama (@laveritepradama) February 7, 2021

According to the first elements of the investigation, delivered Wednesday by the prosecutor of Meaux Laureline Peyrefitte, the detainee would have refused, on January 25, "to return to his cell from the promenade yard, and adopted a behavior in turn very agitated and aggressive ".

"He would have violently opposed his handcuffing, in particular by biting one of the guards in the blood."

"Prolonged cardiac arrest"

During his transfer to the disciplinary unit, "the supervisors noting that he had suddenly become calm, called the medical unit".

The young man was then taken to the hospital by the Samu, in cardiovascular arrest.

The autopsy carried out on Wednesday concluded "the existence of cerebral edema due to prolonged cardiac arrest", according to the prosecutor, who assured that the "bruises and contusions" found on his body had "not been d 'affect the fatal process'.

"The more precise causes of death will thus be sought in further in-depth examinations which will be carried out very soon," added the prosecutor.

Some demonstrators in front of Meaux prison.

AFP / Sarah BRETHES  

On Sunday, the young man's sister launched "a call for witnesses" to the address of the inmates, the guards and the management of the penitentiary center.

"My brother was in good health, we are told that he had a heart attack, I do not believe it", she launched to the demonstrators gathered in front of the entry of the prison.

"Assa Traoré said that blacks and Arabs were not safe in this country, we have proof," added the aunt of the young man.

Detainees refused to return to their cells

After the demonstration, at around 3:15 p.m., around sixty of the 800 inmates at the penitentiary refused to return to their cells after the walk, said the prison administration.

The Eris (regional intervention and security teams) intervened, and the prison management came to meet with them.

The detainees finally returned to their cells around 6 p.m.

After the death of Jimony Rousseau, the prosecution opened a judicial investigation for "search for the causes of death", entrusted to the judicial police of Versailles.

Investigators began to hear from the prison hierarchy on Friday, said a source close to the investigation.

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The Keeper of the Seals, Eric Dupond-Moretti, for his part carried out an inspection in order to "shed light on this affair".

The deceased detainee had been imprisoned since January 6, awaiting trial for "acts of habitual violence by a spouse" and rebellion.