The facts took place Saturday November 9around 8 p.m., in the Gard commune of Montfaucon. While having a leisurely dinner, a farmer and his wife were surprised by the presence of a hooded and armed manwho entered their home. The owner then took note of self-defense facing the burglar.
According to information communicated by the Nîmes public prosecutor's office, the owner initially attempted to verbally dissuade the intruder to commit his act, but without success. In a move to protect his wife and himself, he then grabbed a gun and fired at the burglar. The gunshots allowed the couple to take cover, while injuring the individual, who was hit in the arm. The Roquemaure gendarmes, quickly dispatched to the scene, took care of the injured criminal. The latter, aged 51, is well known to the justice services for multiple crimes, including drug cases, theft and traffic violations. The suspect was transported by firefighters to hospital under the supervision of the gendarmerie. His vital prognosis is not in jeopardy.
The act of self-defense retained
An investigation was opened to attempted aggravated robbery with weaponand the authorities examined the owner's act of defense. Placed in police custodythe farmer was interviewed, and the testimonies collected as well as the technical findings made it possible to reconstruct the facts. After several hours of investigation, the public prosecutor of Nîmes, Cécile Gensac, concluded that the conditions for self-defense were met. The owner was therefore released without judicial control.
This incident restarts the debate on self-defense in Franceparticularly in the face of armed burglaries which threaten the safety of citizens at home. The prosecutor recalled that self-defense is strictly regulated by law.
The investigation continues to identify possible accomplices or a criminal network behind this attempted burglary. The burglar, although injured, will have to answer to court for attempted aggravated theft and violence in a meeting. The surveys also aim to trace the origin of your weapon and to clarify his possible criminal past.
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