Benalla trial: "My hand just brushes it", defends the accused about the incidents of May 1st
Alexandre Benalla, on September 13, on the sidelines of his trial in Paris.
AFP - THOMAS COEX
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
At the trial of Alexandre Benalla, the court examined this Friday, September 24, 2021, the incidents that occurred at Place de la Contrescarpe in Paris, on the sidelines of the demonstrations of May 1, 2018. The former collaborator of Emmanuel Macron is notably being prosecuted for having violently questioned a man.
A scene filmed at the time and which had made the rounds of social networks triggering the "Benalla affair".
Images that the criminal court has watched at length today, and which put Alexandre Benalla in difficulty.
Advertising
Read more
With our special correspondent,
Marine de La Moissonnière
On the various videos, we see Alexandre Benalla running in to challenge a young man who has just thrown a glass carafe at the police.
The thirty-something is on the ground, surrounded by CRS.
The project manager at the Élysée, who is only there as an observer, grabs her by the neck and forcibly embarks her.
A simple "
mano a mano
" with a man who resists violently, is justified Alexandre Benalla, "
without exchanges of blows
", he insists.
And what looks a lot like a slap on the head ?, asks the assessor.
"
My hand just brushes it
", assures Alexandre Benalla.
The kick to the chest?
“
I lost my balance
”, “
my foot only touched it
”.
On the images, however, we see the young man folded in two.
Alexandre Benalla recognizes, however, that his attempt to control it was muddled: “
I made technical moves that work in training and in the books.
But on the ground, the reality is different
”, concedes the former collaborator of Emmanuel Macron.
Alexandre Benalla continues to affirm that he did his duty as a citizen by arresting a delinquent.
As authorized, he says, Article 73 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
"Without my intervention, there would have been a free policeman attacker."
The CRS, questioned during the investigation, believe for their part that they did not need him.
► To reread: "I am in my role of citizen", assures Alexandre Benalla at his trial
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Justice
Alexandre benalla