Trial of the January 2015 attacks: Christophe Raumel, the only accused to appear free

The courtroom of the Paris court where the trial of the January 2015 attacks is being held. REUTERS / Christian Hartmann

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3 min

At the trial of the January 2015 attacks, Christophe Raumel was on Tuesday the second accused to be questioned on the merits of the case.

Accused of helping Willy Prevost in purchases for Amedy Coulibaly, he is the only defendant to be prosecuted for criminal association without terrorist qualification, and to appear free.

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With our special correspondent at the Paris court,

Laura Martel

Christophe Raumel admits it straight away: he was with Willy Prévost when he bought the tactical vests, knives, taser or even the car used by the hyper-hide killer.

But Amedy Coulibaly, he did not know him: " 

I saw him twice, I never even shook his hand

 ".

Believing that he was effectively ignorant of the nature of Coulibaly's projects, the prosecution finally abandoned the terrorist qualification.

At the end of 2014, Christophe Raumel “hangs around 24 hours” with his “big buddy” Willy Prévost, he says, spending time in the shopping center, smoking and drinking to pass the time.

So each time his “buddy” offers to accompany him, he says yes “to get out of the neighborhood”.

" 

But you know that these are races for Coulibaly, you know his reputation, at the very least, you are not asking a question

?

 »Asks the court.

" 

I asked Willy, what is he going to do with this?"

He told me 

: "I don't know".

I thought he might disguise himself as a cop for a robbery

, indicates the accused, who repeats that at the time, [he]

did not ask himself a question

 ”.

When he recognizes Coulibaly on television, " 

the first thing I said,"

reports the accused, "

is Willy you're dead, you're the first one they'll come looking for.

I hadn't thought of myself at all… for me I wasn't involved

 ”.

Today, " 

I really

blame

myself for having followed but I assume"

, affirms Christophe Raumel who ensures that he only aspires to a normal family life, who spent 38 months in detention in this case.

" 

He is a manipulator and a liar,

 " for his part warns his ex-companion.

While she accuses him of domestic violence and of having threatened her, just before the trial, so that she does not say anything about it to the court, the anger and the distress of the young woman erupt, causing an incident of 'hearing.

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