The pediment of a courthouse.
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SICCOLI PATRICK / SIPA
Two men of 25 and 30 years old suspected of having sold to a young Alsatian the firework mortar that had torn his head off on New Year's Eve were indicted, we learned on Friday from the Strasbourg prosecutor's office. .
The two men "were brought before an investigating magistrate and indicted on the count of manslaughter", according to a spokesperson for the Strasbourg prosecutor's office.
They were also indicted for "willful injuries" and placed under judicial supervision, according to the prosecution.
The two suspects were arrested on Wednesday near Boofzheim (Bas-Rhin), the town where the tragedy took place, then referred Thursday.
They are suspected of having sold to the victim, a 25-year-old young man, the mortar which took his head off during the New Year's Eve. "About fifty mortars" had also been seized at the home of one. them, said the Strasbourg prosecutor's office on Thursday.
A question of "ignition delay"
On New Year's Eve, the victim and one of his friends were on a street in Boofzheim handling mortar when the accident occurred.
The 25-year-old had “his head torn off” while his friend, aged 24, had “his face damaged” and had to be hospitalized, according to the Bas-Rhin prefecture.
Eric Klethi, the mayor of Boofzheim, had mentioned a probable “ignition delay” of the mortar: “He wanted to control the device and the rocket left at that time.
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In Alsace, just like in neighboring Germany, firecrackers and fireworks traditionally resonate with force on New Year's Eve, regularly leading to serious injuries and even death.
But this year, the prefectures of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin had banned the sale and purchase of fireworks throughout the month of December, in the face of health risks and the terrorist threat.
Society
No firecrackers or fireworks on New Year's Eve this year in Alsace (in Germany either)
Society
A 25-year-old dies after having his head "torn off" by fireworks
Fireworks
Manslaughter
Indictment
Strasbourg