The CRS, which had appeared at the assizes in December for having shot a trade unionist during a 2016 demonstration in Paris, was finally acquitted after the decision of the general prosecutor’s office not to appeal the verdict, we learned on Tuesday from a source. judicial. “The public prosecutor’s office did not appeal the judgment of acquittal rendered in this case,” said this source.
A 54-year-old brigadier-in-chief, Alexandre M. had appeared at the Paris assizes in mid-December for the throwing of a disencirclement grenade on September 15, 2016, Place de la République, which had shot Laurent Theron, hospital secretary and militant of the Sud-Santé trade union. Laurent Theron then participated in a demonstration against the Labor law enamelled with violent clashes. He has permanently lost the use of his right eye.
“Sincerely sorry for the serious injury”
At the end of the investigation, the CRS was accused of having thrown this disencirclement hand grenade (GMD) outside any legal framework and without being in a state of self-defense. At the helm, the policeman said he was “sincerely sorry for the very serious injury” he had caused but had defended a shot, according to him, “necessary” to “protect (his) men”.
At the hearing, two to three years suspended prison sentence had been requested against him by the public prosecutor, who had challenged any “state of self-defense”. After three days of hearing, the Assize Court had adopted a reverse analysis and acquitted the accused. A verdict now final, to the great satisfaction of his lawyer.
“It’s a real relief for this policeman who really felt in danger and had carried out a legitimate act of response,” said Laurent-Franck Liénard. It takes nothing away from the injustice of Mr. Theron’s injury, who will now obtain fair compensation for his damage from the State. »
According to Laurent Theron’s lawyer, the decision not to appeal confirms, on the contrary, “the existence of a two-speed justice in which the police enjoy a self-defense completely derogatory to the rules of common law”. According to Me Lucie Simon, the judgment of acquittal “consecrates police impunity” and justifies the fact for a police officer “to shoot into the crowd”, “as soon as a demonstration is violent” and even if “his target (…) poses no threat”. And to conclude: “It is a defeat for the law. »