May 1: request for postponement of the trial of the woman suspected of having assaulted a firefighter

Europe 1 with AFP 12:07 p.m., May 4, 2022

The lawyers of a 38-year-old woman, Ms. A., suspected of having assaulted a firefighter during the May 1 demonstration in Paris, will ask for the referral of her trial to the criminal court, said Wednesday one of them, Me Aïnoha Pascual, to AFP.

After 48 hours in police custody, she was referred Tuesday to the prosecution for an immediate appearance Wednesday from 1:30 p.m.

“We are going to request the dismissal”, indicated to AFP Me Pascual who defends Ms. A with Me Alice Becker.

A few weeks before the next hearing

The Code of Criminal Procedure provides that a defendant may refuse to be tried on the day of her immediate appearance in order to have time to better prepare her defence.

Pending the next hearing, within a few weeks, the correctional court may place the defendant in pre-trial detention, in particular if it deems this measure necessary to guarantee her presence at her trial.

Ms. A. is suspected of having hit the helmet of a firefighter and tried to prevent him from putting out a fire during the May Day demonstration in Paris, sparking strong indignation, especially on social networks.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin had denounced "unacceptable violence". 

She is prosecuted for "violence against a person in charge of a public service mission, contempt, rebellion, participation in a group with a view to committing violence or degradation during a demonstration and obstructing the arrival of relief intended to fight a dangerous disaster for people," said the prosecution.

On the videos taken during the May Day demonstration posted on social networks, we see the suspect, orange helmet on her head and red backpack, trying to snatch the fire hose from a firefighter in the process of put out a fire started by demonstrators.

A complaint from the firefighter

After several unsuccessful attempts, she strikes him twice on the helmet before being overpowered.

The firefighter filed a complaint, a police source told AFP on Monday.

In a press release, Me Becker and Pascual "deplored the media treatment of this case" where their client "would appear to rush a firefighter".

They announce a complaint against the Paris prosecutor's office, which they accuse of having "communicated to the press the identity of our client as well as the elements of the search, in violation of the secrecy of the investigation".