He claims to have “tried to protect” the passengers present in his vehicle on Saturday evening. The day after his indictment for “intentional homicide and extortion with a weapon”, the VTC driver suspected of having dealt two fatal blows to the Nantes supporter who died on the sidelines of the meeting between FC Nantes and OGC Nice spoke out through the voice of his advice.
In a writing shared by his two lawyers, Me Plouton and Me Poquet, the 35-year-old driver said he was “devastated by the tragic outcome of this disastrous evening”. “He firmly denies having had any intention of homicide and hopes that the judicial information will allow a fairer legal classification of the facts,” the press release continues.
“A context of ultra-violence”
A version that he stated this Monday during his hearing by investigators and that the Nantes public prosecutor confirmed during a press conference organized afterwards. “He did not say that it was he who was in possession of this knife, but that when his vehicle was attacked, he managed to seize the knife from a Nantes supporter and allegedly attacked him. circulars with,” Renaud Gaudeul had specified.
As a reminder, the first elements of the investigation and in particular the videos found made it possible to provide a precise vision of the scene and a “highlight of the blows carried out”, added the public prosecutor of Nantes.
“These images make it possible to determine, while the VTC vehicle is attacked, that the driver is brandishing a bladed weapon,” he continued. He would have pushed the attacker away and fallen to the ground. Then on the ground, he allegedly made a first stab. This supporter got up, tried to flee and suffered a second stab wound. »
In this press release, the lawyers insisted on the attack suffered by the driver himself. “Numerous blows (punches to the face, glass bottle hit in the head, etc.) were dealt to him on this occasion, as demonstrated by the videos included in the file,” they add. They evoke a “context of ultra-violence”, which the driver “never imagined he would one day have to face”. Following this evening of work, the man had to meet family and friends to celebrate his birthday.
Conviction for drug trafficking dates back “a dozen years”
Finally, when contacted, Me Plouton said he regretted that his client’s background had been highlighted by the prosecutor on Monday. “My client’s criminal record is certainly not the key to understanding the case,” he insists. This is not where we will find elements to understand what could have happened. »
He assures us that his conviction for drug trafficking dates back “nearly a dozen years”, when the acts of violence with which he may have been accused in the past – “which go back one or two years” – do not were only sanctioned with an alternative measure and a fine of 350 euros.
The suspect also disputes the extortion charges with which he is accused. The driver allegedly demanded money from his passengers who he considered responsible for the damage to his vehicle. They each took turns withdrawing 300 euros before being deposited back at their hotel. “My client denies it,” adds Me Plouton. For me it is an unclassified offense which gives this case an almost villainous character which has no reason to be. » The lawyers finally call for “calm and restraint”. “That such a tragedy could occur during a football match which in essence is a celebration, raises questions for us all,” they assure.
A new hearing must be held this Thursday before the judge of freedoms and detention. The VTC driver and his advice will advocate for a release from pre-trial detention with a removal plan. Note that, as we indicated this Monday, an investigation was opened against Nantes supporters in order to shed light on the circumstances of the pre-match. Investigations continue.
