Justice. “It's a miracle.” estimates the president of the Nîmes criminal court who judges this Tuesday, January 7, violence aggravated by three circumstances.
Concerning the facts, this very alcoholic father has just left angry on May 28, 2023 a family evening by the river. He orders his wife, and his two children aged 7 and 9, to get into the car. He starts but after three minutes he accelerates at the sight of a freight train which he hits in the 21st carriage out of 26. A terrible fear, but by a “miracle”, there is no serious injury. This defendant, aged 40, slipped under the safety barrier which was lowered as the train passed. The speed of the car is estimated at 55 km/h according to an expert and the consequences should have been much more serious.
Before planning his car, he told his loved ones: “I will kill you, I am the master of the house”. The defendant cannot remember the comments made at the time and the circumstances of this event. Besides, he has partial amnesia. “I love my wife, I love my children, I didn't want to do any harm. But I don't remember the accident.”he indicates from the box. A forty-year-old who is used to drinking a lot, up to three packs of beer per day and who also consumed vodka on May 28, 2023!
“That day he made a voluntary action that cannot be called an accident.decides prosecutor Stéphane Bertrand. What is demonstrated in this file is the intention to throw the car against the train.”continues the parquet floorer. ” He is driving his vehicle, in a state of intoxication. In full awareness knowing that in his car there is his wife and children he is still going to throw his vehicle against a wagon”summarizes the prosecutor Bertrand who demands 4 years in prison with a committal warrant.
“He forgot everything about that evening, even his children in his car.” denounces Master Laure Mattler for the two children of the accused. “His wife says that under the influence of alcohol he transforms, he is another man to quote his words”, adds the lawyer for the civil party. “Children who have seen death in the face and today how can we explain the behavior of this dad who was supposed to protect them and who threw his car into a train to commit suicide perhaps, probably to do harm”asks Master Mattler.
A father who is punished with 4 years in prison, including one year with a two-year probationary reprieve forcing him to treat his addictions… He must also work and compensate the victims. The Nîmes criminal court decides on continued detention.
