The scientific police on the site of the tragedy, in Sivens, October 27, 2014. -

Rémy Gabalda AFP

  • Rémi Fraisse died on October 26, 2014 on the Sivens dam, killed by the explosion of an offensive grenade.

  • His family challenged this Tuesday before the Court of Cassation the dismissal in favor of the gendarme behind the jet.

  • The highest court will render its decision on March 23.

Almost eight years after the death of Rémi Fraisse, the young botanist killed by a grenade on the site of the Sivens dam (Tarn), his family cannot bring themselves to see the file closed without any designated official.

At his request, the Court of Cassation leaned on Tuesday on the dismissal in favor of the gendarme who launched the fatal offensive grenade on October 26, 2014 when night clashes had broken out between the police and the opponents at the dam.

The soldier, who used an OF-F1 type explosive grenade, banned after the tragedy, was never indicted in this case and was dismissed in January 2019, confirmed in January 2020 by the investigative chamber of the Toulouse Court of Appeal in January 2020.

The use of the defense weapons in question

However, those close to Rémi Fraisse want "a public trial" in this "emblematic" case of the use of weapons in the maintenance of order.

Patrice Spinosi yes, the lawyer for the family, believes that the use of the explosive grenade, fired in a bell and not on the ground, and which got stuck between the back and the bag of the victim, was neither " absolutely necessary, nor strictly proportionate ”.

Before the highest criminal court, Emmanuel Piwnica, the soldier's lawyer, on the contrary, considered that "there is nothing to reproach the gendarmes" whose "attitude was exemplary".

"The gendarmes had to defend themselves (…) they only respected the law", he added.

The Advocate General joined him considering that the “facts have already been weighed” in this case.

The court is due to render its decision on March 23.

If his appeal fails, Rémi Fraisse's family has already indicated that they intend to seize the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

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  • Police violence

  • Justice

  • Sivens dam

  • Remi Fraisse