It was shortly before 11 p.m. that the Loire-Atlantique Assize Court delivered its verdict in the trial of four men, aged 23 to 32 today, members of the ultra right, prosecuted for acts of aggravated violence against Steven Dardenne and Erwan David, 21 and 23 years old today. The facts date back to the night of May 7 to 8, 2017. It was the evening of Emmanuel Macron’s election, a particular political context, with tense demonstrations in the city center. The two victims are pushed to the ground then kicked and beaten with glass bottles by GUD sympathizers, a former far-right organization. The assault took place near the Du Chaffault tram stop while the two victims were returning home by bicycle.
Direction prison this Friday evening for two defendants
This evening, after seven hours of deliberation, the assize court found the four defendants guilty of all the charges, intentional violence with three aggravating circumstances. In this case in a meeting, with a weapon and with premeditation. Joyce Burkart, 32, already convicted of violence in the past, is found guilty of the violence on the two victims. He receives 8 years in prison. François Mamès Cosseron de Villenoisy is found guilty of the violence on Erwan David, the most affected victim, a permanent disability having been recognized. His sentence: 6 years in prison. The two took the direction of the prison as soon as the statement of the verdict since a warrant of committal with immediate effect was pronounced.
Antoine Desbas, 23, and Matthieu Gaultier de la Richerie, 24, are sentenced to a three-year suspended prison sentence for violence committed against Steven Dardenne. Aged 16 at the material time, Steven Dardenne had been prescribed 5 days of ITT. He always does with anguish.
The Advocate General had requested in the morning sentences ranging from 2 years to 10 years in prison. Véronique Wester-Ouisse had spoken of an assault “super violent”.
Some reactions
“The sentences imposed are consistent with what happened. The Assize Court rightly assessed the participation of each other”has explained Steven Dardenne’s lawyer, Me Loïc Bourgeois. “My client assumes this verdict, he expected a conviction”reacted for his part the lawyer for François Mamès Cosseron de Villenoisy, Me Loïc Cabioch. The defendants now have 10 days for a possible appeal.
A special police system had been put in place for the end of this sensitive trial. The verdict was delivered calmly and the various parties left the courthouse under police escort.
Recall that a fifth man Tanguy Martin has been implicated in this case. He died accidentally in the summer of 2020.
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