their three attackers convicted, the racist character not upheld by the courts

The Carcassonne court handed down its judgment in the Verzeille lynching case, a violent attack that occurred in July 2022. Three men, including a local elected official, were sentenced to suspended prison sentences for violence in meetings. The racist nature of the facts was not upheld by the courts.

This Wednesday, November 13, 2024, the Carcassonne criminal court rendered its judgment in the case of the lynching of Verzeille (Aude). Three men were convicted of gang violence during a beating in July 2022. One of the defendants, who posed as a security agent, received an 18-month suspended prison sentence. The two others, including local elected official Ludovic B., were sentenced to 12 months in prison. The court did not recognize the racist nature of the attack, despite requests from anti-racist associations.

The facts date back to the Verzeille festival, July 24, 2022. That evening, two young men, a Guadeloupean and a Mahorais, were violently attacked by several people in front of a crowd of spectators.

The scene, marked by extreme violence, is filmed and shows spectators encouraging the attackers with shouts of incitement. The victims are accused, without proof, of having carried out “savage stings” on festival-goers, a rumor which had then circulated.

During the hearing on September 4, the prosecution requested suspended prison sentences for two of the defendants and community service for the third. The elected official Ludovic B., 48 years old, hospital worker, but also vice-president of the Verzeille festival committee and second deputy to the mayor of the town, also risked being banned from working in the public service. As for the fourth man, the prosecution had requested his release. The court ultimately upheld the group violence for three of the defendants, but rejected the classification as racist violence.

Written with Eric Henry.

Tags Carcassonne France