The septuagenarian hunter was released for the benefit of the doubt before the Nîmes criminal court.
In the role of the defendant there is a 77-year-old man previously unknown to Justice. He was sent back, this Tuesday, December 10, to the Nîmes criminal court presided over by Jérôme Reynes, for “endangering the lives of others with an immediate risk of death or infirmity by clearly deliberate violation of a regulatory obligation security”. To summarize, the hunter would not have applied the basic rules of caution during a hunt.
This Saturday, October 1, 2022 in Saint-Michel-d'Euzet, a bullet ended its course in a home by shattering the bay window at eye level. There were no injuries, but the septuagenarian suspected of being the shooter was due to be brought to justice yesterday. A ball that will create a hole 7 centimeters in diameter. Initially, of course, it was a wild boar that was in the sights of the fine triggers. A first bullet is fired, it wounds the animal which continues on its way. Another bullet will kill the animal, but a man who was on a high post will miss his target. It is this bad trajectory which will impact the bay window. “The hypothesis is that you missed the boar but your bullet will end up in the bay window.”summarizes the president of the court at the hearing. Except that other hunters were present during this hunt, but also on the opposite side of the mountain, suggesting that the bullet could come from a weapon other than that held by the accused.
“The hunter must take safety precautions.” “You must not shoot facing a house or a road.” ” In addition there is a second impact at the bottom of the door. “Since then this lady and her children have moved following the moral consequences”completes the advice of the civil parties.
” It has homes in its axis, the site is not secure”continues the public prosecutor who wants conviction for the accused. He asks for a fine but also a ban on possessing a weapon for the hunter.
It is then the turn of Maître Jérôme Arnal to enter the stage. He dismantles the investigation by finding “this particularly severe procedure for a 77-year-old man who has never been convicted.” “It's degrading.” “First of all, from where he is he can't see the houses, then it's impossible with the directions provided during the investigations to determine the exact trajectory of the bullet”. “When we are certain of nothing, we relax,” continues Maître Arnal, who wins his case a few moments later. The court cleared the hunter. for the benefit of the doubt.
