A disturbing witness. This Friday during the third day of the trial of the attacks of November 13, 2015, the bailiff responsible for citing the list of witnesses expected in the coming months, indicated a name known to all French: “Holland, François”. The former President of the Republic should indeed appear on November 10 before the Special Assize Court of Paris in order to testify at the trial. But the arrival of the former head of state aroused incomprehension on the side of the defense.
“We do not understand why he was cited. If the civil parties could explain to us so that we can prepare for the hearing of this individual, ”said Me Martin Mechin, lawyer for Hamza Attou, one of the three defendants who appears free under judicial supervision. “We do not understand very well what this witness could bring to the manifestation of the truth,” said Mechin on reading the name of François Hollande.
“We wonder what these witnesses bring to shed light on the truth”
A lawyer for civil parties explained that François Hollande had been cited by the association “Life for Paris”. “He was at least at one of the scene of the attacks, the Stade de France”, recalled the lawyer. “He will be able to provide information on a number of themes,” he added.
Christian Saint-Palais, one of Yassine Atar’s lawyers, tried for participation in a criminal terrorist association and who faces life imprisonment, is not convinced. “We wonder what these witnesses bring to shed light on the truth,” he said. “This testimony will take time on those of the civil parties and the defense,” he argues. “A witness must speak out on the charges against the accused and their personality,” recalls Raphaël Kempf, another lawyer for Yassine Atar.
Me Saint-Palais also wonders about the presence as a witness of Georges Fenech, former president of the parliamentary commission on the attacks of November 13th and who has just published a book on the subject. “We can not receive all those who publish books at the time of the trial,” he amused himself before the president cut off the discussion. “Are there any other observations on Mr. François Hollande? “. We move on to the call of the next witness.