Adama Traoré case: investigating judges order additional medical expertise

Adama Traoré, then 24 years old, died shortly after his arrest by the gendarmes, in Beaumont-sur-Oise, in the Paris suburbs.

DOMINIQUE FAGET / AFP

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In France, something new in the Adama Traoré case: the investigating judges order additional medical expertise.

The relatives of the young man, who died shortly after his arrest by the gendarmes, in Beaumont-sur-Oise, in the Paris suburbs, this Saturday, July 17 marked the fifth anniversary of his death.

In five years, this case, erected as a symbol of police violence and racism, has turned into a battle of experts, to determine the exact cause of death of Adama Traoré, then aged 24.

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The investigators indeed have new elements: a direct witness, a long-time acquaintance of Adama Traoré describes him shortly before his arrest as unusually short of breath and a little dazed.

The young man had just escaped a first attempt at arrest.

The case also has a new document: a two-week work stoppage, dating back to 2014. The reason is not specified, but according to an advisor from Pôle Emploi, the victim was reoriented professionally because of the risk of discomforts.

No other of the fifteen people who worked with him confirmed these statements.

It is up to the judges to decide between contradictory expertises

These elements were transmitted to the Belgian experts, seized in 2020 to settle the battle of contradictory expertises.

It is up to them to say if they could come and modify the conclusions of their report.

According to them, the young man suffered from a heatstroke, on this day of heatwave, but which would probably not have been fatal if he had not received the weight of three gendarmes, while he was tackled on the ground.

The defense of the Traoré family denounces the priority given to elements that would come to clear the military.

Anger feeds by the addition to the procedure of the administrative files of the three gendarmes.

It appears that in 2019, they received, for the arrest of Adama Traoré, a reward for exceptional services.

2000 people demand Justice for Adama!


5 years after the mobilization remains intact 🙏



The fight continues ✊



Thank you all 💚 # JusticePourAdama pic.twitter.com/hwoD1MIdPu

- The Truth For Adama (@laveritepradama) July 18, 2021

To read: Riots at the death of Adama Traoré in France: his brother Bagui acquitted at the assizes

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