She was found guilty of "reckless manslaughter".
A 57-year-old motorist was given a two-year suspended prison sentence on Tuesday by the Perpignan Criminal Court for the death of 8-year-old Yanis.
The drama took place on February 25, 2022, near Lake Villeneuve-de-la-Raho, not far from Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales).
The boy had been hit, in front of his mother and sister, while he was on a pedestrian crossing.
He had died from his injuries.
The court established the defendant's guilt with regard to her "conduct unsuited to the circumstances" and also imposed a twelve-month suspension of her driving license.
During the trial on December 14, marked by postponements for expertise, the driver explained that she had been dazzled by the sun.
The victim's family accused him of having dragged the little boy 22 meters after the collision, and asked for the opening of a judicial investigation.
This request was rejected on Tuesday by the court, considering that "the circumstances of the accident are perfectly established".
“Inadmissible” for the family of the little boy
The court also ruled that the hit and run could not be considered as an aggravating circumstance because the motorist herself warned the gendarmes after the accident and identified herself.
When the deliberations were announced, the child's father cried foul, calling the decision "inadmissible".
“The answer given to us by the court is that it is not serious, and that we must move on,” he protested, demanding an appeal.
"The mourning is terrible and there is a misunderstanding, but I do not have the impression that there is an injustice", commented for his part Matthieu Vachet, the motorist's lawyer.
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Accident
Court case
Perpignan
Child
Occitania
Languedoc Roussillon
Justice