“How, in a few minutes, can you tell the infinite diversity of the victims and the link that brings them together? 'lawyers', declared Me Frédérique Giffard facing the special assize court of Paris, in an introductory remark.

An "unpublished" collective plea, for an extraordinary trial.

At the trial of the attacks that killed 130 people in Paris and Saint-Denis on November 13, 2015, the lawyers for the civil parties – survivors or relatives of the victims – began their pleadings on Monday May 23, scheduled to last until the beginning of June.

These lawyers, who represent approximately two thirds of the nearly 2,400 civil parties to the trial, will not plead for their client but for the "community" of civil parties, in a pleading organized by theme. 

For five days, lawyers must follow one another at the bar to deal with cross-cutting subjects such as "the hijacking of religion" or "music as an instrument of terror" (Monday), "the Bataclan", "the Stade de France" and "the terraces" (Tuesday) or even "post-traumatic stress", "addictions", "survivor's guilt" (Wednesday).

>> To read also: November 13 trial: initially mute, Salah Abdeslam ends up giving explanations

A hundred lawyers rely on their colleagues

This desire for "coordination" which aims not to create "inequality of arms" in the face of the 11 defendants in the box, has prompted more than a hundred other lawyers to voluntarily give up pleading to rely on their colleagues.

"Mr. President, at the beginning of this hearing, you drew all of our attention to the need, although this trial is unprecedented, to remain within the norm. There was one point that was important: it was respect defense rights," announced Me Giffard at the start of his speech.

“We have been composing for six years so that our customers are not doubly tested: first because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time”, the evening of November 13, and then not to suffer “d 'to have been too numerous to each be able to be a victim in their own right'.

"We will all keep as a compass the dignity with which the victims have expressed themselves," she promised.

Tributes to victims 

Every day, before the start of the pleadings, lawyers will speak briefly to evoke the memory of victims.

This Monday, the stories of Christopher, Thibault, Charlotte and Emilie, Fabrice, Stéphane, Mathieu, Estelle and Marion.

The first pleadings are scheduled from Monday to Wednesday.

There will be no hearing on Thursday (holiday) or Friday.

The pleadings of the civil parties should last at least until June 7.

Some lawyers preferred not to join their colleagues or give up speaking.

They will speak individually from June 1.

The requisitions of the general attorneys of the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (Pnat) are scheduled for June 8 to 10 before the floor is left to the defense from June 13.

The court could begin its deliberation on June 27, after "the last word" of the defendants, for a verdict expected on June 29.

>> To read also: November 13 trial: at the helm, Mohamed Abrini does not deny anything of the attacks

Twenty defendants, including six tried in absentia, have been appearing before the special assize court since September 8 for their involvement in the attacks that left 130 dead and hundreds injured on November 13, 2015. Twelve face life imprisonment, including the only living member of the commandos, Salah Abdeslam.

With AFP

The summary of the

France 24 week invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 app

google-play-badge_EN