French Police Officers on Trial for Involuntary Homicide
Three police officers will face trial in Paris for the involuntary homicide of a man who repeatedly yelled “I’m suffocating” during his detention in January 2020, according to a source familiar with the matter.
At least two officers have already filed appeals to the judgment.
Cedric Chouviat, 42, died after being tackled to the ground by a police officer, drawing parallels with George Floyd’s murder in the United States in May 2020, which caused global protests.
In a document ordering the trial seen by AFP after originally being reported by investigative website Mediapart, investigating magistrates found the cops had demonstrated “inappropriate, negligent, and imprudent behaviour” during Chouviat’s detention.
A fourth female police officer present at the scene will not be tried.
Chouviat was tackled to the ground while wearing a motorcycle helmet during his arrest in Paris on January 3, 2020.
He was transported to the hospital in critical condition after losing consciousness, but died on January 5.
Six months later, information from an inquiry revealed that he said “I’m suffocating” nine times in 13 seconds before losing consciousness.
The findings elevated the case to the status of a symbol of police violence in France, which has received increased attention in recent years as a result of a number of high-profile shootings during traffic stops and injuries during demonstrations.
The Chouviat case going to trial is “an important step for the family” of the delivery driver, their lawyer Arie Alimi said.
“It’s also an important step for addressing of police violence by the judiciary,” he added.
“The hearings will be the time and place for important debates about how the police and judiciary work as institutions.”
Lawyers William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth, also representing the family, nevertheless expressed regret that the involuntary homicide charge “distorts and conceals” what they called “voluntary” violence against Chouviat.
Pauline Ragot, who represents two of the police officers, told AFP that she had appealed the December 17 ruling to send her clients to trial.
AFP
