No change of direction for Tony Vairelles. The former footballer, tried with three of his brothers for violence leaving a nightclub in 2011, maintained his version on Wednesday before the Nancy Court of Appeal. He “never shot” the nightclub bouncers.
After the hearing on Tuesday of their two younger brothers, Giovan and Jimmy, as well as security guards, Tony and Fabrice Vairelles were questioned in turn on Wednesday morning about the events that occurred at the exit of a nightclub in Essey-lès -Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle) in October 2011. “In this case, there are injuries that we do not dispute, but I am formal: I have never fired on these people”, repeated several times the former French international, who the bouncers all refer to as the shooter.
Constant since the beginning of the instruction, its version has never varied. Visibly moved, Tony Vairelles, sentenced to three years in prison at first instance, first wanted to express himself freely before the president questioned him point by point on the various gray areas of this file.
Misunderstanding with his brother
“Why did you and Fabrice go back to the parking lot when you had already picked up your little brothers? “Asks President Vincent Totaro. Tony Vairelles explains their presence by a misunderstanding between his brother and him: “Fabrice says to me: ”Where is the little one?”, and I understand: ”Where did it happen?” . I point to the nightclub, he heads for the parking lot, and I follow behind him. That’s how we end up in the parking lot…”
Then, according to the former footballer, “the bouncers come towards us”, one of them “has a telescopic baton in his hand”, he then receives “a throw from behind”, he is “gassed” , “cowls up” before hearing a “gunshot”. He is sure of it: a “single detonation”.
“And you came unarmed?” asks the president. ” Yes of course ! Wait, I’m a public person, I would come and shoot men on the ground, with their faces uncovered, in front of cameras? But show them to me! », replies Tony Vairelles. Problem, the CCTV tape has been erased. On the tape, an old Enfoirés concert…
The appeal trial is due to last until Friday. In the first instance, the four Vairelles brothers were sentenced to one and three years in prison, the three security guards to three and four months suspended.