The court sentenced him to complete a citizenship course. A 49-year-old resident was on trial for violence against the mayor of Hazebrouck Valentin Belleval, this Tuesday at the Dunkirk court. On June 13, he pushed him during an altercation in a café in the city. The defendant who considers himself to be a “political opponent” claimed self-defense.
The mayor came to ask him to stop defaming him on social networks
Video surveillance images from the Café de Paris were shown at the hearing. We see the mayor entering the café, while the defendant himself is leaving. They shake hands, a discussion begins between them, then the mayor places his hand on the forearm of the 49-year-old man. This then violently pushes him back to the chest with both hands. During his complaint, Valentin Belleval explained that he is regularly the subject of defamatory comments on Facebook. The two men do not get alongthe defendant also plans to run for mayor in the next municipal elections.
Valentin Belleval explained to investigators that he asked the defendant to stop defaming him on social networks during this meeting. Then the tone rose, he said he put his hand on the defendant's arm to ask him to calm down, and the defendant then got angry and pushed him, before the manager and a waiter intervened.
Self-defense
“It’s very simple, I don’t understand why I’m here, the victim is me”said the defendant at the hearing. He claims to have made this gesture to “repel your attacker”according to him it was the mayor who squeezed his forearm. He pleads self-defense. He claims to have then gone to the police station to file a complaint, but the police refused. “We don’t call on people. We don’t get along, so don’t come and talk to me!”said the defendant. “Pushing him away, do you think that’s proportionate?”asks the president.
“There is no self-defense, the response is not proportionate,” underlines the prosecutor. “If the bench was not there, the mayor would certainly have fallen behind. This goes far beyond the political arena. In 2023, there were 2,600 reports against elected officials, 60% of them are mayors”recalls Valentin Belleval’s lawyer.
The 49-year-old man was sentenced to citizenship training. He is also fined 150 euros for moral damage and 700 euros in lawyer's fees. He assured that he would appeal.
