convicted after causing death of retired couple while driving drunk

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On the evening of July 18, 2022, a couple from Rennes, married for 56 years, died following a road accident in Campbon (Loire-Atlantique). “It was very, very hot that day,” admits the 24-year-old carpenter, at the bar of the Saint-Nazaire criminal court on Tuesday November 26, 2024. Could this explain a blood alcohol content of 1.90 g?

The defendant, seriously injured in the accident, has few memories: “I don't remember what I drank! » His work colleagues only mentioned “a beer at the end of their day”.

“Chronicle of a predicted accident”

In any case, a little before arriving at his home, at the wheel of the company van, this resident of Campbon deviated, scratched a truck before hitting the Peugeot 1007 of the couple of 77 and 78 years old, came to spend a few days in Guenrouët.

Husband and wife died the same evening within an hour of each other. For the lawyer of the civil parties: “It was the chronicle of an accident foretold”.

M^e Lionel de Béthune de Moro chilled the audience, emphasizing that two days later, the family's ancestor, aged one hundred, died upon learning of the disappearance of her only son, very present at her side, and of his daughter-in-law.

“It’s a reactionary death following the announcement,” criticized the Angoulême lawyer.

“What I did is unforgivable”

On the stand, the defendant is visibly marked. He apologizes to the three children, five grandchildren and the brother of the deceased wife, who were particularly reserved and dignified during the trial.

The president specifies that during the hearings, the boss of the company affirmed that it was customary to “have a drink at the end of the day, but never more than two at work”.

Alerted, the partner of the accused who gave birth to a little boy last year, came to the scene.

She then insisted to the accused's two work colleagues to try to understand this massive alcohol consumption.

The president and the prosecutor followed her reasoning:

“Given the rate, there was a lot more than just one beer. »

Weakly, the carpenter, himself seriously injured and who has since put in place psychological care, alleges that he has little or no memory: “I regained consciousness in my van after the shock… he m I sometimes have flashes, but I still don't know what happened.

“A car is a weapon”

The young man insists to the victims: “What I did is unforgivable, I think of you every day, every night…”

The prosecutor insists as she often does: “A car is a weapon”. She does not doubt the sincerity of this young man's apologies, nevertheless, faced with this massive alcoholism and the drama that resulted from it, she demands, against this defendant with a clean criminal record: three years, one of which is suspended.

Which raises the question from the defense lawyer: “Certainly, he is extremely guilty, but he has nothing to gain from prison.”

M^e Morgan Loret is surprised:

“If the rate is correct, how was this man able to complete his day's work? How could they let him take the wheel? »

Insisting on the fact that his client did what was necessary “to overcome his guilt”, he proposed a longer sentence, but without incarceration.

The defendant, kept in the company, is sentenced to five years, four of which are suspended. His license, which had been suspended for a year, was suspended for six months.

He will have to pay 1,000 euros in legal fees to the victims, whose civil interests will be debated on April 24, 2025.

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