The Public Prosecutor of Rennes, Philippe Astruc, calls for witnesses and announces the filing of a third complaint against the police for “willful violence resulting in mutilation or infirmity, by a person holding the public authority”.
During a press conference, the Public Prosecutor of Rennes, Philippe Astruc indicates that the four procedures from Niort (two announced last week, and two this Monday) concern the most affected victims. These procedures are instructed by the military court of Rennes, the competent court to assess the legality of the actions of the gendarmes during their interventions. Knowing that the procedures for violence against the police and those concerning the prohibited demonstration remain the responsibility of the Niort prosecutor’s office.
After sending the victims and their families wishes for recovery, he gives the details of the four most seriously injured.
The first individual was born in 1990 (33 Years). The medical-legal certificate issued indicates serious head trauma as well as the fracture of a vertebra. His ITT (total incapacity for work) will most likely be greater than 100 days. The vital prognosis of this victim is still engaged at the time of writing these lines. He will quote the work of our colleagues from Liberation who published an investigation (photos and videos in support) which demonstrates the probable link with the shock received by a tear gas canister. While specifying that it is a working hypothesis, but by no means a certainty. He adds that stones were found in the pockets of this protester.
The second victim was born in 1988. She suffers from a diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage, with a hematoma on the lateral aspect of the neck and a skull fracture. The doctor concludes that these lesions are compatible with a blunt mechanism (shock received). The prosecutor specifies that at this stage of the investigation, it is impossible to determine the offensive agent. This person’s total incapacity for work is set at 100 days. According to his family’s lawyer, he would have come out of the coma, and would have finished his recovery phase, without being able, at this stage, to assess any sequelae. It was found on this demonstrator at the time of his hospitalization a craft object of artifice.
For each of these two victimswere filed a complaint against X, for attempted murder and willful obstruction of the arrival of help and a second complaint for violation of professional secrecy and misappropriation of information contained in a file of their purpose.
The third victim was born in 1995. She has bruising and trauma to her left foot, as well as a bone smash that could be consistent with a blast from a knockout grenade, according to the medical examiner. A temporary ITT (total incapacity for work) is set at a minimum of 60 days, with a risk of permanent mutilation.
On the other hand, a complaint for intentional violence resulting in permanent disability and with a weapon was filed.
The fourth victim, born in 2003, has significant facial polytrauma and leg injuries. His ITT is estimated at 100 days. She is unable to speak due to the immobilization of her jaw by the doctors.
The prosecutor indicates that these demonstrators have little or no criminal record. He is currently conducting a prosecution investigation. Nevertheless, it does not exclude the opening of a judicial investigation in a second time. It specifies the qualifications used: violence resulting in an ITT of more than eight days per person holding public authority and failure to provide assistance to a person in danger. These qualifications are likely to change, depending on the state of health of the victims and the elements of the investigation.
The prosecutor specifies the seizure of communications as well as multiple videos (more than 300) of the gendarmes, witnesses….
The first stage of the investigations will consist in determining with precision the origin of the injuries. It will make it possible to search for direct witnesses (via a call for witnesses launched today). He therefore invites those who may have videos to send a copy via this email: [email protected].
In all transparency, the prosecutor indicates that the chemical ballistic analyzes are entrusted to independent professionals. They will be confirmed, in connection with the action of the gendarmerie.
A hearing of the gendarmerie squadron leaders will be organized with presentation of all radio exchanges and reports drawn up for the occasion. These investigations are entrusted to the general inspection of the national gendarmerie (IGGN) rather than to the research section of Poitiers, in order to put more distance and impartiality in the investigation.
He adds that he is directing this investigation and that he is solely responsible for it.