Police violence in Dijon: two national police officers convicted, they are appealing

Christophe R. and Bastien B. were sentenced, on November 14, to heavier sentences than the prosecution’s requisitions. Their lawyer filed an appeal on November 17.

Convictions well beyond what the prosecution had required. On November 14, two months after their trial, national police officers Christophe R. and Bastien B. were found guilty by the Dijon court, involved in a case of police violence which dates back to March 2020.

► HEARING REPORT: “He slipped and we didn’t see him, eh?” : a case of police violence judged in Dijon (September 2023)

Prosecuted for willful violence and forgery of public documents (a false report) Christophe R., chief brigadier at the time, received a 10-month suspended prison sentence. The prosecution had requested a 6-month suspended prison sentence. He is also ordered to pay 5,000 euros in compensation to Amine C., the victim.

Bastien B. received a 4-month suspended prison sentence, whereas the prosecution had only requested a suspended fine of 2,000 euros. The courts also decided to include these convictions in bulletin no. 2 of their criminal record, even though they had pleaded for non-registration.

Justice has therefore far exceeded the requisitions of the prosecution. A logical sanction according to Master Anthony Truchy, the lawyer of the victim Amine C. “My client was just asking for justice”he declared, contacted by France 3 Bourgogne this November 21.

“Amine C. was recognized as a victim, that’s a good thing, but he didn’t pop the champagne either. He was stunned by what happened to him”he recalls. “We are not even happy about this conviction. The behavior of the police officers was shameful.”

However, Christophe R. and Bastien B. have not yet been sentenced: their lawyer, Maître Jean-Philippe Morel, appealed the decision on November 17. “This is unacceptable”he told France 3 on November 21. “Christophe R. never claimed that he was not responsible for the injuries [il avait cassé les dents de la victime, Amine C.] but we are asking for reclassification as involuntary violence.”

As for Bastien B., the lawyer recalls that initially, the prosecution had not planned to prosecute him because his gesture (a slap on the victim’s neck) could be assimilated to a “technical gesture” of the police. “Christophe R. injured Amine C., but Bastien B. did not hurt him”adds the lawyer.

What about the erroneous report?

“The PV was certainly imprecise, a little messy and disorderly. Yes, it was done in haste. But was there an intention to cause harm? No”

Jean-Philippe Morel

police lawyer

As for the insulting language used by the police (“Get away, bastard!”, “shut your mouth, otherwise we’ll smash you”, “we’ll come back, we’ll fuck you up”…) and recorded by the on-board GoPro of another police officer, Jean-Philippe Morel recalls: “These comments may give rise to administrative and professional sanctions, but that was not the subject of the judgment before the court. They were not prosecuted for that.”

“This case should not be used as an example”

Jean-Philippe Morel

police lawyer

Finally, Maître Morel returns to registration in the criminal record, which can result in removal from the national police. “It’s a professional death sentence”he asserts. “We can’t sum up their entire professional career to that.”

“Do you consider these people trustworthy? Do you consider it normal for them to be paid by the taxpayer?” replies Anthony Truchy, Amine C’s lawyer.

The appeal being suspensive, the two police officers will not see these sanctions applied for the moment. The retrial is not expected to take place for at least a year.

► On September 12, 2023, Christophe R. and Bastien B. were tried for having assaulted Amine C. in March 2020 on the Chenôve plateau, while he was with friends. The victim had two broken teeth. The police officers were also prosecuted for false statements in the intervention report. The report said in particular that Amine C. and his friends “suddenly” came out of the thickets, and that Amine C. already had a bloody mouth when the national police arrived.