A tragedy almost occurred, in April 2022, within a family living in the Valençay sector. Victim of a deep depression linked in particular to a lack of professional recognition, a fifty-year-old had taken refuge in a small room adjoining his home and threatened to commit suicide using a hunting rifle. On several occasions, he had aimed the gun at himself, without pulling the trigger.
The police did not take long to arrive. They quickly realized the danger when they realized that the man was drunk. Several shots are heard, then the madman comes out of his refuge, points his weapon at the police. He finally asks them to shoot in his direction. Which of course they won't do.
After around forty minutes of difficult exchanges, two soldiers managed to approach the gun holder and seize his weapon.
He had “no criminal intent”
This man appeared, Wednesday November 13, 2024, before the Castelroussins judges for this violence against soldiers and possession of weapons and ammunition. The representatives of the police were defended by Me Édouard Lefranc who would notably highlight “the coolness and professionalism of the gendarmes” of Valençay and Chabris. The public prosecutor agrees with these comments, before requesting a suspended prison sentence and €8,000 for each of the four gendarmes for their moral damage.
Me Nathalie Gomot-Pinard defended the accused and recalled that her client had not “no criminal intent. Instead, he wanted to end his life.”while knowing that, when seizing the shotgun, “the dogs were not relieved”.
The defendant was sentenced to twenty-four months' imprisonment with a probationary suspension of two years, will have to undergo treatment, will be ineligible for three years and will have to pay each gendarme the sum of €3,000.
