White March in homage to Romain Barre killed on September 28, 2016 by two young men in Nantes.

S. Salom-Gomis / Sipa -

SIPA

  • Romain Barré was killed in downtown Nantes on September 27, 2016.

  • Three defendants were sentenced to 23, 17 and 15 years in prison at first instance.

  • Cécile Lecornu, who denies her complicity, appealed against her conviction.

It was four years ago, almost to the day.

Romain Barré, an uneventful real estate agent, was attacked by two young men while he was resting in his car parked in downtown Nantes, after an evening at a restaurant.

The victim, aged 38, will eventually be strangled with cables.

Then his body will be thrown into the Loire, not far from the Banana Hangar.

A night of horror which the Rennes Assize Court of Appeal for Minors will have to look at again from Monday.

On September 17, 2019, at first instance, the Loire-Atlantique Assize Court sentenced Warren Chapiteau and his acolyte, a minor at the time of the facts, to 23 years and 17 years of criminal imprisonment.

Both had acknowledged the murder, explaining that they initially intended to steal Romain Barré's business and vehicle.

Found guilty of complicity, Cécile Lecornu, now 22 years old, had also been sentenced to 15 years in prison, while she was pleading acquittal.

On the evening of the tragedy, she accompanied the two accused, in another car, but claims to ignore the homicide.

She was the one who called for a new appeal.

"She is aware of the suffering that her call causes"

"It's a dramatic situation," comments Catherine Glon, lawyer for the young woman.

My client is very distressed by the prospect of this new hearing.

She strives to face things with responsibility.

She is very aware of the suffering her appeal causes for the family of the victim.

Loïc Cabioch, lawyer for Romain Barré's father, confirms this last point.

“It's a new, very difficult event that we would have preferred to avoid.

My client will come and talk about his son, for his son.

"

The stake of the trial will be mainly to specify the role of Cécile Lecornu.

"We are waiting for her to be sentenced for complicity, as the Loire-Atlantique Assize Court had done," says Me Cabioch.

It will be up to the jurors to set the sentence.

We also hope that the defendants will bring more clarity on what happened.

"

The trial will take place behind closed doors.

Nantes

Nantes: A suspect indicted after the murder of the high school student found tied up

Miscellaneous

Nantes: The suspect arrested for the murder of a teenager was a repeat rapist

  • Assize court

  • Justice

  • Nantes

  • Trial