January 2015 attacks: the defense of Miguel Martinez rejects the terrorist qualification
A sketch of the audience made on September 16, 2020 shows Miguel Martinez during his testimony before the Special Assize Court in Paris.
AFP - BENOIT PEYRUCQ
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
At the trial of the January 2015 attacks, the floor is now - and until Monday - the defense.
This Thursday, the court heard in particular that of Miguel Martinez, accused of having participated in the search for and supply of weapons for the terrorist trio, in the so-called “Belgian-Ardennes” part of the case.
The prosecution requested 15 years in prison against him.
His defense categorically rejects the terrorist qualification.
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With our special correspondent at the Special Assize Court of Paris,
Laura Martel
An anguished question opens and crosses the plea of Me Margot Pugliese: “
Can we believe in anti-terrorist justice?
""
Will you be free enough not to follow the thesis built during all these years, courageous enough to acquit Miguel Martinez of terrorist association?
»Says the lawyer.
"
I'm afraid they are unfair,
"
Miguel Martinez
told him
.
"
He is afraid and I can not reassure him given the system built by the prosecution
", confides in turn the lawyer.
This system that she denounces is the one that makes the radicalization of its client "
the cement
" of the terrorist qualification in the
Belgian-Ardennes section
.
Besides, “
wasn't he a little condemned in advance, Martinez, with his beard, his khamis, his trip to Saudi Arabia?
“Asks the lawyer.
She recalls the words of the examining magistrate discovering his client: "
That's good, I have not yet a bearded in this case
."
"
We laughed,
" she points out, "
except that it was not a good word, but the red line of instruction
".
Just like "
we smiled at the hearing,
" recalls the lawyer, discovering that the beheading video in front of which Miguel Martinez was surprised hilariously was in fact a Dupontel film.
This episode was however considered major to support the accusation of radicalism.
"
And it's sad to cry about what that says about anti-terrorism justice!"
», Deplores Me Margot Pugliese.
Miguel Martinez, she assures, "
is only guilty of transporting weapons unrelated to the attacks
" then "
we will have to lower a lot, a lot, a lot, and I hope you will have this courage,
" says she at court.
“
It is justice that concerns you.
"
The verdict is expected on December 16.
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France
Justice
Terrorism
Paris attacks
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