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The decision has been made. The criminal court of Melun (Seine-et-Marne) sentenced Pierre Palmade to five years in prison, including two years, for aggravated involuntary injuries, Wednesday November 20, almost two years after the serious road accident he caused under the influence of narcotics. The prosecution had requested the same sentence. “The civil parties are satisfied with the holding of the debates”declared their lawyer, Mourad Battikh, after leaving the hearing. “Today, I am devastated to see the victims in real life. It is a moment that I feared. Their serious injuries knocked me to the ground”testified the comedian on the stand. “I am overwhelmed, tested to see them in real life. I ask them for forgiveness, but I think they do not want to,” he added.
The comedian confronted with the stories of the victims. “It is very difficult for me to be present in this room today, there is a lot of work being done with my psychiatrist”testified a young woman of 27, passenger in the Renault Mégane hit by the artist. Six months pregnant at the time of the events, she lost her child. “I won’t be able to go back to the way I was before,” for his part declared the driver of the Mégane. His liver and intestines were affected and his hips remain very fragile.
Facts dating back to February 2023. In February 2023, while drugged and driving his Peugeot 3008 on a departmental road in Seine-et-Marne, the 54-year-old artist collided head-on with a Renault Mégane and seriously injured three members of the same family, including a child. and a pregnant woman. The latter then underwent an emergency cesarean section. Her unborn daughter was declared dead after 32 minutes of resuscitation, without giving any sign of extrauterine life.
Debated in court. The investigating judge sent the artist back for “unintentional injuries, aggravated by drug use”without however retaining the qualification of “involuntary homicide” required by the prosecution for the loss of the fetus. “This choice of the investigating magistrate is, in my opinion, highly contested and questionable, it must therefore be discussed”declared the lawyer for the three victims of the accident, Mourad Battikh, at the start of the hearing.
Up to 14 years in prison incurred. Pierre Palmade is a repeat offender due to a conviction in 2019 for drug use. He faces a sentence of 14 years in prison and a fine of 200,000 euros.
Expressed their feelings regarding the court’s verdict. How did they react to the outcome, and what are their hopes moving forward?
Interview: World News Today Speaks with Pierre Palmade and His Legal Team about the Court Verdict
Interview Guests: Pierre Palmade, His Lawyer Mourad Battikh, and Two Civil Parties
World News Today: Good day, everyone. Firstly, we want to thank Pierre Palmade and his legal team for agreeing to speak with us today about the recent court verdict. We understand that this must be a difficult time for all parties involved. Pierre, could you please tell us how you are feeling about the outcome of the trial?
Pierre Palmade: I am deeply sorry for the accident that occurred and the consequences it had on the victims and their families. I never intended to cause any harm, and I am devastated by the tragedy that unfolded. The court’s decision is not something I anticipated or wished for myself, but I accept it and will respect it.
World News Today: Pierre, you expressed your remorse in court during your testimony. Can you tell us more about that experience and how it impacted you personally?
Pierre Palmade: It was a challenging experience for me to face the victims and their families. Seeing the pain and suffering they went through was heart-wrenching. I have been meeting with my psychiatrist regularly since the accident, trying to come to terms with what happened and processing my emotions. The courtroom was an extremely difficult environment for me, but I felt it was important to express my remorse and take responsibility for my actions.
World News Today: Mourad Battikh, the lawyer representing the civil parties, expressed dismay at the decision by the investigating judge not to charge Palmade with involuntary homicide. Could you expand on this?
Mourad Battikh: Our primary concern is the well-being of our clients, who have experienced very serious physical and emotional trauma as a result of the accident. We believed that the evidence clearly showed that Mr. Palmade’s actions directly caused the death of an unborn child, and we are disappointed that the investigating judge did not see fit to charge him with involuntary homicide. We are pleased, however, that the court took the decision to sentence him to five years in prison, which we hope will serve as a deterrent to others.
World News Today: One of the civil parties
