Nearly two weeks after the verdict of the Rhône Assize Court, which sentenced his client Youcef Tebbal to twelve years in prison for the death of Axelle Dorier, the Lyon lawyer David Metaxas has just filed a complaint. For ten days, he has been receiving death threats and acts of intimidation daily in his office and on social networks.
“The far right has seized on this court decision and is harassing me by email, on Twitter, by post, confided to 20 minutes Mr. David Metaxas. At first, I hunkered down. But I received a mail with my photo with a hanging rope apparently from the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After a while, it can’t go on any longer. “He adds:” A few days ago, I even had death threats against my daughter where it is indicated that they want to drag her for 800 meters with me. »
As a reminder, incidents had taken place in court at the announcement of the deliberation of the trial concerning the death of Axelle Dorier. This young woman had been hit and dragged over more than 800 meters by the main convict driving a Golf, in July 2020, on the eve of her 23rd birthday.
Acts punishable by five years’ imprisonment
The lawyer specifically sent a complaint on Tuesday to the public prosecutor of Lyon for “threats, acts of intimidation”, “insults and defamation”, as well as “cyberharassment”.
“There is no impunity on social networks. The perpetrators of these acts can incur up to five years in prison. They will account for it in court, ”he exclaims. And he warns: “There is no point in deleting the messages, they have all been recorded and transmitted in a 500-page file for the filing of a complaint. »
David Metaxas underlines that the trial which was conducted for four days “went well” and that, since Tuesday, the court decision is final. None of the parties appealed. “Axelle’s mother even wanted to meet Youcef’s mother,” he said to illustrate that the verdict was “accepted” by everyone.