Judo: indignation after the release of Alain Schmitt accused of domestic violence

Europe 1 with AFP 6:45 p.m., December 01, 2021

The release of judo coach Alain Schmitt of domestic violence against Olympic champion Margaux Pinot provoked outrage from French judo stars on Wednesday, when the prosecution appealed the decision. Believing "not to have enough evidence of guilt" of violence by the former member of the French judo team on his companion this weekend in Seine-Saint-Denis, the Bobigny criminal court released Alain Schmitt in an immediate appearance hearing that did not end until midnight Tuesday through Wednesday.

At the trial, the public prosecutor had denounced "very serious violence, even for a first-time offender", on the part of Alain Schmitt, and requested against him a one-year suspended sentence.

A few hours after the release, the Bobigny prosecutor's office announced to appeal.

In a message of support to her colleague in the France team, the female star of French judo Clarisse Agbégnénou said she was "shocked" by the court decision.

I do not have the words to express everything that is going on in my head and my body as a woman in the face of what my teammate Margaux Pinot has gone through.

All the more shocked by the court's decision.

What does it take for the sanctions to fall, death?

https://t.co/gITdlNxmLs

- AGBÉGNÉNOU Clarisse (@ Gnougnou25) December 1, 2021

"I do not have the words to express everything that is going on in my head and my body as a woman in the face of what my teammate Margaux Pinot has suffered," tweeted the flag bearer of the French delegation at the Olympics from Tokyo.

"We are all deeply touched by what our teammate Margaux Pinot has just suffered," added three-time Olympic champion Teddy Riner a few minutes later.

We are all deeply touched by what our teammate Margaux Pinot has just suffered and we give her our full support.

What must be done to ensure that victims are heard?

That the attackers be convicted?

https://t.co/xzxgPViDFb

- Teddy Riner (@teddyriner) December 1, 2021

Alain Schmitt, 38, was arrested in a state of intoxication on the night of Saturday to Sunday at Blanc-Mesnil a few hours before his scheduled departure for Israel, where he is expected to take the reins of the women's national team.

Margaux Pinot accuses her companion and ex-trainer within the Etoile Sportive du Blanc-Mesnil club of having beaten her, pulled her hair but also of having tried to strangle her during an altercation in the apartment. of the young woman of 27 years.

Her calls for help alerted some neighbors, where she found refuge before the police arrived around 2:30 am.

Suffering from bruises and a broken nose, she was prescribed ten days of ITT.

Contradictory versions

On Wednesday afternoon, the gold medalist in Tokyo with the France team, in the new mixed team event, spoke for the first time on social networks since the start of the case to express her indignation .

"What is their slanderous defense of my wounds worth, and the blood strewn on the floor of my apartment? What was missing? Death at the end, perhaps?", She protested, posting a photo of her face swollen, which seems to be taken soon after the fact.

"It was probably judo that saved me," she added.

Tuesday's hearing in Bobigny had been marked by contradictory versions.

During the night from Saturday to Sunday, I was the victim of an assault at my home by my companion and trainer.

I was insulted, punched,

my head hit the ground several times.

And finally strangled.

pic.twitter.com/Ghbwg8NVQy

- Margaux Pinot (@ MargauxPinot2) December 1, 2021

Alain Schmitt denies "100%"

Also presenting a bruised face, Alain Schmitt denied "100%" the facts with which he was accused. At the bar, he denied having dealt the slightest blow to his companion, instead describing a fight between lovers as a "tornado", based on judo holds and triggered by Margaux Pinot. "It was not a judo fight, it was punches," protested the judo at the bar. Contacted by AFP, Alain Schmitt's lawyer, Caroline Wassermann, said that her client welcomes the call from the prosecution with "serenity".

"This does not mean that the decision of the court (of appeal) will not be similar to the decision of the first instance," she warned.

The individual record of Margaux Pinot, who fought in two categories (-63 and -70 kg), notably includes a world bronze medal in 2019, two titles of European champion (2019 and 2020) and two silver medals. continental (2017, 2021).

Bronze medalist at the 2013 Worlds (-81 kg), Alain Schmitt told the court to consider his departure for Israel as a "real change of life" after six years as a coach at Blanc-Mesnil where he also coached Madeleine Malonga.

He must finally fly to the Middle East in the next few days.