The investigation into the death of an octogenarian on May 17 at La Duchère (Lyon 9) was widened this Friday to determine whether the facts are of an anti-Semitic nature, the Lyon prosecutor told AFP. Nicholas Jacquet.
Aged 89, the victim, of Jewish faith, was probably pushed into the void by his neighbor.
“Following elements collected on social networks and which have just been brought to the attention of the prosecution, the latter has decided to extend the referral to the investigating judges to the aggravating circumstance of an act committed for reasons of the victim's belonging to a specific ethnic group, nation, race or religion,” the prosecutor said.
A dispute and a new investigative hypothesis
On the evening of May 17, the body of the 89-year-old man was discovered lifeless at the foot of his building.
His 51-year-old neighbour, whom he frequented regularly, is suspected of having pushed the old man from the 17th floor after an argument.
He was charged and remanded in custody.
“A judicial investigation had initially been opened on the count of intentional homicide”, the first investigations having not led “to retain an anti-Semitic character in the acting out”, recalled Mr. Jacquet, before retaining this news. investigation hypothesis.
The National Bureau of Vigilance against Anti-Semitism (BNVCA) had already announced, last Sunday in a press release, its intention to become a civil party in this case.
In Lyon, a nonagenarian dies, pushed into the void by his neighbor
Justice
Murder of Mireille Knoll: The octogenarian was "massacred" because Jewish, says her son
Miscellaneous facts
Homicide
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitic aggression
Octogenarian
Lyons
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes