on the first day of the “Theo affair” trial, the accused police officers present themselves as “victims”

2024-01-10 07:10:30
Thibault de Montbrial, one of the lawyers for the three police officers accused of “aggravated intentional violence” during the arrest of Théodore Luhaka in 2017, upon his arrival at the Bobigny courthouse, January 9, 2024. BENOIT TESSIER / REUTERS

Until then they were only three uniforms seen from afar, three silhouettes that the video surveillance cameras of Aulnay-sous-Bois (Seine-Saint-Denis) had filmed grabbing, hitting, clubbing, gassing, handcuffing, then hitting and gassing Théodore Luhaka again during an identity check which degenerated on February 2, 2017, and from which the young man, 22 years old at the time, escaped with a serious injury to the anus which will follow him all his life. The three uniforms became faces, bodies, voices, Tuesday January 9, and we discovered the existences hidden underneath, on the first day of the trial of the “Theo affair”, before the court of assizes of Seine-Saint-Denis, in Bobigny.

Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers “The Théo affair” at the assizes, seven years later

The chairs of Tony Hochart, Jérémie Dulin, and Marc-Antoine Castelain, aligned facing the court and the jurors, almost touch. The three accused seem to stand together in front of those who will judge them until January 19 for “aggravated willful violence”. In the room, two blocks: on the left benches, Théodore Luhaka, his family and his supporters – including the music producer Michel Zecler, violently arrested by police in 2020 in Paris, and the mother of Nahel, killed in June 2023 by a police officer in Nanterre. On the right-wing benches, many plainclothes officers stood in solidarity with the accused colleagues.

The interrogation of the three police officers on the merits of the case – the various violent actions with which they are accused – will take place next week. The first day of the hearing is devoted to studying their background, their personality, their current situation.

“This move was legal and legitimate”

After retracing the investigation, the president of the court, Caroline Jadis-Pomeau, asks the accused to provide an initial reaction. The youngest of the trio (31 years old), Tony Hochart, overcome by stress, stammers an incomprehensible sentence. Jérémie Dulin, the dean (42 years old), has nothing to say. These two are accused of hitting Théodore Luhaka while he was on the ground and restrained. Marc-Antoine Castelain (34 years old) inflicted the baton blow which seriously injured Théo. And he wants to talk.

“I intervened to free my colleague in a very delicate situation, in the context of a very difficult arrest, facing an individual who was rebellinghe begins in a calm tone. I used a move that was taught to me at school, I believe that this move was legal and legitimate. Of course, the injury is distressing, I am aware of it and I think about it every day. This is a serious injury, and if you allow me, Madam President, I would like to renew my deepest…” He searches for a second for the word which suddenly escapes him. “My deepest compassion towards Mr. Luhaka”, he continues. Then, turning towards the young man sitting behind him: “I really sympathize with you, sir. »

You have 55% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.