Sébastien M., a police officer in Bordeaux, had injured a student in the face by a LBD shot during an anti-G7 demonstration in Biarritz in December 2018. He was sentenced to 90 days on Friday in Bayonne- fine of 15 euros, for a total of 1,350 euros, with the possibility of imprisonment in the event of non-payment.
Prosecuted for “involuntary violence”, Sébastien M. admitted the facts and admitted a “careless injury”, in the context of an “appearance on prior admission of guilt” (CRPC), a procedure which allows to accept a conviction while avoiding a trial. The police officer accepted this sentence proposed by the Bayonne prosecution and approved in the process by a judge of the court in public hearing.
Lola Villabriga said she felt "relieved"
The alleged acts took place during a demonstration against the holding in August 2019 of the G7 in Biarritz, on the sidelines of a preparatory visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves le Drian, on December 18, 2018. Lola Villabriga, young 19-year-old student, positioned high up on a bench to film the demonstration with her phone, had been hit in the face by a defensive bullet launcher (LBD), the use of which was widely criticized during the crisis "yellow vests". The impact had caused him a triple jaw bill, and 45 days of ITT.
Scar across the lower face, the young woman said she felt "a little better, relieved" at the end of the hearing. "I was lucky to find my shooter, who wanted to talk to me, he expressed his regret to me. But not everyone will have this chance, ”she said.
Other protesters injured by LBD gunfire were present
"There was never any question of targeting her or touching her on the face, she was not the one who was targeted," said Olivier Sapata, a lawyer for the police, at the hearing. Colleagues who came to support him denounced a "media platform". "This trial is not so much that of a police officer as that of police violence," insisted Sophie Bussière, lawyer for the victim, with reference to the context of denunciation of violence in the police. "My client wishes that what she suffered was not used for nothing and we question the use of LBD in policing," she added after the hearing.
Among the hundreds of people gathered in front of the court to show their support for the young woman, other demonstrators injured by LBD or tear gas canister GLI-F4 had made the trip.
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