• The trial of the alleged murderers of Dorian Guémené opens this Monday before the Assize Court of Ille-et-Vilaine in Rennes.

  • The 24-year-old bartender died on July 8, 2018 after being severely beaten outside a nightclub.

  • Since the tragedy, his parents have fought against violence, asking the public authorities to act to try to stem the phenomenon.

It was to be a festive evening on July 6, 2018 in Rennes after the victory a few hours earlier of the Blues against Uruguay in the quarter-final of the World Cup. But it had ended with a drama. At dawn, a violent fight broke out at the exit of the L'Espace nightclub, located a stone's throw from the police station. Badly beaten, just like his friend Kevin, by several individuals, Dorian Guémené was found lying on the ground shortly after 6 am, his face shattered. The young 24-year-old bartender died the next day at the CHU Pontchaillou. Very quickly, the investigation had led to the indictment of four individuals, followed by two others in early September.

More than three years after the tragedy, the alleged attackers of Dorian Guémené, aged 21 to 31, will appear from this Monday before the Assize Court of Ille-et-Vilaine, five for murder and the last for destruction of evidence.

A trial as much hoped for as feared by Dorian's parents.

"It is essential for our reconstruction even if it will not bring us back our child," says Philippe Guémené.

They demand "an exemplary sentence, commensurate with our suffering"

If they don't dread confronting their son's alleged murderers, they mostly wait for answers. What happened that night inside and outside the nightclub? And especially why such an outburst of violence on their son, beaten for several minutes while he was on the ground? “We don't want an apology because forgiveness is impossible,” says Dorian's father. But if they could at least tell the truth, maybe that would help us move forward ”. "They did an abominable act and they must pay now", adds Carine Servain, Dorian's mother, claiming "an exemplary sentence, commensurate with our suffering".

During these two weeks of trial, the challenge will be to determine the responsibilities of each of the accused. With on one side a gang of four, two brothers and their two friends, with whom Dorian and Kevin got confused inside the nightclub. And on the other, two students, so far foreign to the story, who got involved in the fight outside after an altercation with the victim and his roommate.

Since the start of the investigation, each other's versions have often evolved, each trying to minimize its participation or blame the other.

"The trial will allow us to see more clearly the role of each other," said the lawyer for one of the accused.

Because if there are many on the bench, it is important not to consider that they are all guilty ”.

"What cowardice all the same to put together a person on the ground," sighs Philippe Guémené.

Their fight against violence

More than three years after this violent death which had shaken the Breton capital, pain and anger are still very present in the parents of the young man, described by all as "someone who was close to people, loved life and never never saw evil ”. They also lead since a fight against the violence which is commonplace in Rennes as elsewhere. "We do it for Dorian, so that his death is not unnecessary," assures his mother.

They are calling on the public authorities to take firmer measures to try to stem this phenomenon, notably asking for the installation of video protection cameras near all the festive places of the Breton capital.

“We know that will not solve everything but we can not sit idly by, says Dorian's father.

At least to prevent other families from experiencing such a tragedy ”.

Miscellaneous

Filmed by CCTV cameras burning garbage cans in Rennes

Society

Battle of figures between the State and the city of Rennes on video surveillance

  • Reindeer

  • Violence

  • Parents

  • Trial

  • Murder

  • Homicide

  • Assize Court

  • Justice