Former French international Tony Vairelles, now 51, was convicted in July 2023 by the Nancy Court of Appeal for shooting at the security guards of a nightclub in Essey-lès-Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle) in October 2011. The former Lens player appealed, as did his three brothers Jimmy, Giovan and Fabrice and the three bouncers, all convicted in this case.
The Court of Cassation “notes that there is no ground in this case which would allow the appeals to be admitted”according to its decision issued on Tuesday. In a March 12 decision consulted on Tuesday by AFP, the highest court of the French judicial system also rejected the priority questions of constitutionality (QPC) raised by the Vairelles brothers. They have always proclaimed their innocence.
Read also: “I never shot these people”, maintains Tony Vairelles, tried on appeal for violence
A “mysterious shooter”
According to their version, the two young brothers had been thrown out of the nightclub, assaulted by three security guards. They then returned to the scene with their two older brothers, Tony and Fabrice. Shots were reportedly fired by a “mysterious shooter” according to the family’s version, which the prosecutor had noted “clan functioning”The security guards claimed to have identified Tony Vairelles as the shooter.
His 18-month prison sentence, accompanied by a five-year ban on carrying a weapon, is subject to change and could therefore prevent him from returning behind bars, where he spent five months at the start of the investigation.
