Paris, January 5, 2019. Police officers assess the damage after "yellow vests" forced the door of the ministry of Benjamin Griveaux using a construction machine.

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Bertrand GUAY / AFP

  • On January 5, 2019, the door of the ministry of Benjamin Griveaux, then government spokesperson, was broken down by a pallet truck driven by “yellow vests” during a demonstration.

  • Five of them appeared before the 14th chamber of the Paris court on Wednesday, after their trial was postponed four times.

  • The court released a dozen videos shot by the "yellow vests" themselves, which clearly establish responsibilities.

At the Paris court,

It was a time when masks were used to protect against tear gas more than the coronavirus.

Where Benjamin Griveaux was government spokesperson and not even a candidate (LREM) for mayor of Paris.

And where the "yellow vests" could organize demonstrations without any fear of confinement.

It is an anachronistic trial that began this Wednesday before the 14th chamber of the Paris judicial tribunal, before which five people were sent back for a “theft” and “damage” committed on January 5, 2019, during the act 8 of the "yellow vests".

The “theft” of a forklift truck with the help of which “damage” was perpetrated on the Hôtel de Rothelin, at 101 rue de Grenelle, in the wealthy 7th arrondissement of Paris.

Built in 1703 for Philippe d'Orléans, it was occupied in 2019 by Benjamin Griveaux, then government spokesperson.

The own videos of the "yellow vests" as proof

At the time, he must have been exfiltrated from his offices.

And the images of the instruction had looped.

We can see the famous pallet truck driving through the porte-cochere of the mansion under the cheers of a crowd in fluorescent vests.

The images from CCTV are a bit blurry.

But not those of the demonstrators, who all took out their phones to immortalize the event, who on Facebook, who on Twitter, who on YouTube.

At the time, they had no idea that this would constitute so much evidence for justice.

"When I see that again, it was ridiculous ... Ridiculous ..." Sylvie breathes.

B., one of the videographers appearing in court.

And like the other defendants, she has a hard time justifying what happened.

“In the video, you can be heard asking the crowd to help a protester take down a barrier.

Why ?

», Asks the president.

“Uh… that's ridiculous…” she repeats.

"I rode on it like a child on a merry-go-round ..."

At the bar, each one goes there with his verse.

Thomas.

S, born in 1997, tries the panurgical excuse when asked why he climbed on the cart.

“It's the crowd effect… I climbed on it like a child on a merry-go-round.

Kevin.

L. him, tries bad faith: "I didn't want to walk the whole street ..."

And Romain.

M., who was in charge of the pallet truck, advances the effects of alcohol.

“We started the demonstration.

One thing leading to another, there you are, I was a little intoxicated.

I handle this kind of gear every day at work.

I know how to do.

I was galvanized.

There's nothing more to say… ”But why did he throw the machine in the door of the ministry?

“Honestly, that's a very good question.

I do not know… "

#Griveaux: "Now that you say it, this is a building with very beautiful architecture. But at the time ..."

- Vincent Vantighem (@vvantighem) October 28, 2020

He has one day left to try to find a convincing answer.

After an afternoon of viewing the images and questioning the "yellow vests", the court planned to hear the lawyers' pleadings and the prosecutor's requisitions on Thursday.

The defendants face sentences of up to seven years in prison.

Not to mention the possible reimbursement of costs caused by the degradations in the ministry and in two neighboring bank branches, estimated at nearly 300,000 euros.

The judgment should be reserved.

Society

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  • Benjamin Griveaux

  • Demonstration

  • Yellow vests

  • Justice

  • Trial