Four years after the death [almost to the day] of Adama Traoré, the case is still far from being closed. Investigating judges relaunch the investigation by ordering new investigations, including some into the past of the young man, who died on July 19, 2016 following a police arrest in Beaumont-sur-Oise (Val-d'Oise) , but also on the past of those who arrested him, as well as their possible links.

The procedure, requested by the Traoré family's lawyer, Me Yassine Bouzrou, aims to establish whether there was a dispute between the victim and the police who arrested him. All the criminal records or proceedings in which Adama Traoré was involved will therefore be attached to the file. As well as the list of police officers who had arrested him. The administrative files, as well as the criminal records of the three gendarmes who arrested him on the day of his death will also be added to the file. 

No reconstruction of the facts

The examining magistrates have however refused for the moment the reconstruction of the facts requested repeatedly by Me Bouzrou, explaining that they would rule on the subject after the return of the new medical expertise entrusted to four Belgian doctors and expected for January 2021.

They also refused to divest the investigation of the General Inspectorate of the National Gendarmerie (IGGN) for the benefit of the Criminal Brigade, as requested by Mr. Bouzrou: the IGGN is entrusted with all of the new investigations, including work to identify new witnesses who could have witnessed the first arrest of the 24-year-old black man.

"A positive step forward for the dossier"

"We note that after four years of inertia and demonstrations denouncing the denial of justice, the judges have, since the rally in front of the Palace of Justice on June 2, 2020, ordered [new] acts of investigation and a medical expertise entrusted to foreign doctors, "noted Me Bouzrou in a press release.

"Although this is a positive step forward for the case, we can only deplore the behavior of the examining magistrates and confirm our request for their disqualification," said the council.

With AFP

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