Océane Théard 3:40 p.m., February 17, 2022

On the fourth day of the trial for the assassination of Father Hamel, July 26, 2016, Guy Coponet gave a poignant testimony.

The old man stabbed four times by one of the jihadists had been forced to film the scene of the massacre of the monk.

A small figure, dressed in gray woolen pants and velvet pants.

Guy Coponet, his back a little stooped by his 92 years, advances to the bar and sits on a green plastic chair installed for him.

In a clear voice, he begins his story, under the emotional gaze of his children, seated on the bench of the civil parties, who have accompanied him since the start of the trial.

He begins his story.

"July 26 was my birthday," smiles Guy Coponet.

A chilling tale 

Mass takes place as usual, but in a small committee, some of the faithful have gone on vacation.

“Fortunately…”, advances the nonagenarian.

The mass is almost at its end, when the two assailants suddenly enter the Church.

"They started to put on clothes, disguises... Then they put something in my hands to record, something to take pictures," Guy Coponet hesitates.

He continues: "I stayed true to what they wanted. I couldn't help it."

Behind the screen, the two men attack Father Hamel, force him to kneel, stab him.

"He defended himself as best he could, with the little strength he had left. Then he moved poor Father Hamel no more, it was over for him."

Memories collide, his voice wavers.

>> READ ALSO -

 Trial of the assassination of Father Hamel: one of the accused minimizes his participation

"What are you going to do? Are you going to kill your grandfather?"

One of the two assailants snatches the phone from his hands, then crushes it to the ground.

"He said to me: 'Go ahead, it's your turn now!

I said to him “What are you going to do, are you going to kill your grandfather?” remembers Guy Coponet.

The audience holds their breath.

"And it was quickly done."

The old man tells of the stab wounds in the back, the arm, the throat.

This throat he squeezes with all his might.

Guy Coponet staggers, falls, plays dead, under the traumatized gaze of his wife Janine, present at mass by his side.

"Don't move, if you move, it's over," the old man said to himself during those long minutes he spent on the church floor.

Then finally, a door that opens, the road to the hospital, the two operations in three days… And the pain he still feels in his back today.

"That's it for me, it's the heart that speaks," he concludes.