Prosecuted for the violent evacuation of an amphitheater at the Faculty of Law of Montpellier in 2018, the former dean of the faculty Philippe Pétel was sentenced, this Friday, to 18 months suspended sentence, and the former professor Jean-Luc Coronel, member of the commando, at six months firm.
Philippe Pétel, who admitted during the trial to have "given his approval" to the coup, was also sentenced to two years of suspension from the civil service and Jean-Luc Coronel to one year, nevertheless with the obligation to work .
The wife of the former professor, suspected of having recruited the other members of the commando, was sentenced to the same sentence as her husband, a sentence that she will have to execute like him at his home, under electronic surveillance.
Martial Roudier, son of the founder of the identity group of the Ligue du Midi, accused of having been part of the commando, meanwhile received the most severe sentence with one year in prison.
Three other men were sentenced to six months in prison, under electronic wristbands.
"Switched to the dark side"
The two former professors of the prestigious Montpellier faculty have "switched to the dark side of the force", had estimated the prosecutor of Montpellier Fabrice Bélargent during his requisitions.
He had notably called for sentences of 18 months suspended prison and 5 years of ban from all public office against the former dean, and 10 months in prison possibly accompanied by house arrest and five years of prohibition of the public service against the ex-professor.
Read alsoMontpellier: three years later, the case of the commando of the law school in court
In March 2018, while the law faculty was blocked by students opposed to the Vidal law, a commando group of ten hooded people appeared in the middle of the night.
Armed with sticks, planks and tasers, these men entered the occupied amphitheater and distributed the violent blows to the students present.
About ten students and activists were injured.
Immediately, the dean of the faculty had denied being at the origin of this commando.
But he had been placed in police custody less than a week after the events, alongside Jean-Luc Coronel, the first being accused of having facilitated access to the amphitheater, the second of having participated in the 'assault.
In a few months, the members of this group - mainly relatives of the small identity group the Ligue du Midi - had been identified.
They had all recognized the facts.