Six young people indicted as part of the investigation into the death of young Thomas, stabbed after leaving a village ball in Drôme, were incarcerated and three others placed under judicial supervision, the prosecution announced on Sunday.
After 96 hours of police custody, the nine suspects, including three minors, were transferred to the Valence courthouse on Saturday, a week after the violence committed in Crépol, which also left eight injured, three of whom were serious.
Six people, including two minors, incarcerated
The prosecution had requested the opening of a judicial investigation for “organized gang murder”, “attempted murder” or “voluntary violence committed in a meeting”.
The “nine people were indicted in accordance with the requests of the prosecution,” wrote public prosecutor Laurent de Caigny in a press release sent to AFP, without giving more details on the charges against each.
“Six people, including two minors, were incarcerated in pre-trial detention by the judge of freedoms and detention. Three people, including a minor, were placed under judicial supervision,” he said.
140 hearings which have not yet allowed “the elucidation of the facts”
On Saturday the prosecutor stressed that the 140 hearings conducted since the tragedy have not yet allowed “the elucidation of the facts” and in particular to determine the motives, the scenario of the acts, nor all the perpetrators.
The one who had been designated as the author of the fatal blows “was not recognized” by the witness who had designated him, he also noted.
On the night of Saturday November 18 to Sunday November 19, this 20-year-old man went with others to the winter ball organized in the Crépol village hall.
An altercation stemming from a comment about a haircut?
According to the first elements of the investigation, an altercation started inside, perhaps linked to a remark on the haircut of one of the accused, continued outside. At the same time, other young people had arrived in one or two vehicles at high speed.
“All individuals outside Crépol are described as carrying blows, some stabbing”, shouts and insults are heard, nine witnesses out of the 104 interviewed hear hostile remarks “to white people”, reported the prosecutor.
The investigation does not allow at this stage to assert that the victims could have been targeted because of their belonging to a “purported race, ethnic group, nation or specific religion,” however, Mr. de Caigny clarified.
The young people indicted mostly admit to having been in Crépol but deny having stabbed them.