The trial of the collapses of rue d’Aubagne which left 8 dead in 2018 in Marseille ended this Wednesday, December 18, 2024, with a judgment reserved until July 7, 2025, reports theAFP. It is the end of six weeks of debates which unfolded the scenario of a drama “inevitable” substandard housing.
In total, 16 defendants – co-owners, trustee, social landlord, architect-expert and former deputy at the town hall – were prosecuted for different charges, the two most serious of which are involuntary manslaughter and the subjection of vulnerable people to conditions of unworthy accommodation.
Prison sentences required
In his indictment, the prosecutor had requested prison sentences against 10 of them, including the only municipal elected official prosecuted, Julien Ruas (3 years), and the architect-expert Richard Carta (3 years including one suspended). Against the co-owners, directly cited by the civil parties, he had requested sentences ranging from two years in prison, one of which was suspended, up to five years, two of which were suspended, against Xavier Cachard, also the trustee’s lawyer and regional elected official. .
Read also: Rue d’Aubagne trial: Gaudin’s right-hand men support the ex-deputy
He also called for the conviction of the legal entities accused in the case, the trustee of 65 and the social landlord Marseille Habitat who had not maintained the neighboring building at number 63.
Defense lawyers pleaded for acquittal
“The court is not a forum, it does not deal with substandard housing”declared Me Christophe Bass, the lawyer for the trustee of 65, rue d’Aubagne. For him, the Liautard cabinet “did his job even if his proposals were rejected by the co-owners”.
But for Mr. Pierre Ceccaldi, it is “a heresy” of having prosecuted co-owners of 65, rue d’Aubagne who had not been prosecuted during the investigation but were summoned to appear in court by civil parties. For the lawyer, it was done “trial of intent” on an alleged “greed” of his client, Xavier Cachard, owner, lawyer for the trustee and also at the time regional elected official. He certainly does not “expressed one’s feelings” during the seven weeks of hearing but it is by “modesty”Mr. Ceccaldi defended it, believing that there was none ” Nothing “ to condemn him.
Read also: At the rue d’Aubagne trial in Marseille, the heartfelt cry of a victim’s mother
Concerning the architect Richard Carta, who had appraised the building less than three weeks before its collapse, an acquittal was also requested by his lawyers who confided that the required sentence (three years including two years in prison) “stunned”. Me Cyril Gosset was surprised that his client was being prosecuted and not the other expert, Reynald Filipputti, who had benefited from a dismissal of the case. “even though he had known the building for four years”.
