The affair had shaken up the entire political class. The three men suspected of assaulting Brigitte Macron's great-nephew, Jean-Baptiste Trogneux, on the sidelines of an undeclared demonstration against the pension reform, are due to be tried on Monday in Amiens.
Aged 20, 22 and 34, these defendants with marginal profiles were initially to be tried in court immediately on May 17, two days after the facts, for violence in assembly. However, their lawyers had asked for more time to prepare their defence.
Pre-trial detention
They will appear in pre-trial detention, a placement justified by the president of the court because of "the risk of repetition of the facts". The prosecutor of the Republic of Amiens, Jean-Philippe Vicentini, had made the request, arguing that "in democracy, we must speak, we can not knock". The trial is scheduled to begin at 14 p.m.
Owner of the famous chocolate factory founded by Brigitte Macron's great-grandfather, Jean-Baptiste Trogneux, 30, was molested on May 15 in front of his home, located above his business in Amiens. His attack was allegedly provoked by several people who participated in an undeclared demonstration, according to his father, Jean-Alexandre.
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According to police sources, he received four days of total incapacity for work (ITT). According to his lawyer Franck Delahousse, he wanted to "defend the window of his store, already targeted several times". The chocolate factory has been under police surveillance at every event in recent years.
Among the defendants, already convicted of violence and assault, the youngest, Florian C., is illiterate, the oldest, Yoan L., is under curatorship. "In 15 seconds, we realize that we need a psychiatric expertise," said the latter's lawyer, Ibrahima Ndiaye, at the opening of the May 17 hearing.
Young people with a "chaotic journey"
"We can talk about social cases," said Marc Blondet, the lawyer of the third defendant, Adrien F., who struggles, according to him, to read and write. "These are young people who have a chaotic journey, difficulties especially of a psychological nature," he said.
Four other people arrested in this case were released after being taken into custody. A 16-year-old girl, also prosecuted, is due to be tried later by a juvenile judge.
As soon as the facts were revealed, voices on both the left and the right were alarmed by the violence of the political debate. Emmanuel Macron had himself denounced "unbearable and unspeakable acts". Brigitte Macron was indignant at the "cowardice" of the authors.