It is Tuesday that the Angers Criminal Court must render an extremely awaited deliberation.
That of the trial of the collapsed balconies of rue Maillé, on October 15, 2016, in downtown Angers.
The trial of this accident which resulted in the death of four young people and caused 14 injuries took place over a month from February 8 to March 4.
Five people were judged: the architect, the former manager of the structural work company (Bonnel company), the works manager, the site manager and the technical controller.
They are accused of shortcomings in the design and construction process of the building dating from 1998. Prosecuted for manslaughter and involuntary injury, they incur up to three years of criminal imprisonment.
Serious flaws
During the hearing, marked by the moving testimonies of the survivors and relatives of the victims, the defendants admitted part of their responsibility.
Four successive expert appraisals revealed the existence of serious defects: the concrete was too porous, the load-bearing reinforcements had been incorrectly fitted, the waterproofing was faulty and the balconies had been poured on site, without validation, whereas they were initially to be prefabricated.
Eighteen young people had fallen into the void from the fourth floor during a festive housewarming party.
The experts had ruled out the hypothesis of an overload of the balcony, as well as inappropriate behavior of the guests on the evening of the tragedy.
Justice
Trial of the collapsed balconies in Angers: The architect recognizes a "share of responsibility"
Justice
Trial of the collapsed balconies of Angers: "We heard a great crash..." What happened on the evening of the disaster?
Justice
Angers
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Accident
Pays de la Loire