“I didn’t think it was going to turn like that…”: at the Ariège conference, the accused speak, between opposition and denials

After the victims, witnesses or experts, one of the important moments of an assize trial is when the accused(s) take the floor to give their version of the facts. The words of Kévin* and Gaspard*, who are appearing until November 15 before the Ariège Assize Court for attempted assassination and complicity, among others, were therefore eagerly awaited by the members of the hearing of the Foix court.

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However, even after a day dedicated to their words, we have the feeling of having remained almost at the same stage. Many questions still remain unanswered: starting with who is responsible for the blow that shattered the head of David, now in a wheelchair. The interrogation by the magistrates revolves at length around who could have the most reason to be angry with the young man.

When he learned that Aurélie had reconnected with David, her ex, “Kévin had death against him”, charges Gaspard, who continues to describe him as constantly hammering “how could she do that to me”, “crazy” , ” scary “. “I swear on my mother’s grave that I didn’t touch it,” he replied to David’s mother, in a heavy silence. Earlier, he even thanked the victim for not having “outed” him in several legal cases: “I was more indebted to him than anything else. »

What degree of complicity?

However, Gaspard does not emerge from the story cleared. In front of him, Maître Vitrac, Aurélie's lawyer, raises his voice: “You tell us that, several hours before the events, Kévin calls you to tell you that he is arriving with a Camembert machine gun, and clearly violent intentions.” . In Lavelanet, he goes, with you at his side, to several people's homes to find a rifle. And all this doesn't worry you? » The young man doesn't give up, but an embarrassment becomes almost palpable: “No, I didn't think it was going to turn out like that…”

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The attorney general, Pierre Aurignac, adds another layer: “You know that he is looking for a weapon, that he hits his partner, he tells you that he just wants to go get his things, and you believe him? Or did you want to believe it? » Because he and the civil parties do not fail to recall that, even if Gaspard cites his fear of reprisals on the part of Kévin, he accompanied him at least in his search for weapons, even on the landing of the apartment , then got rid of the supposed murder weapon, the table leg. “He told me, 'Kick the door, otherwise I'll kill you with them,' my brain took off at that moment. He's crazy, he left his brain in Pas de la Casa! », Exclaims Gaspard, adding that he did everything to try to dissuade him.

“I externalized on her, not on him”

From this image of a frightening Kevin, who seemed to terrorize a large part of the young people of Lavelanet, there is not much left at the bar. Not one word flies higher than the other from the young man, who begins with these words: “I'm sorry, it's 100% my fault, I'm here before you to take responsibility for the mistakes I made. »

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He denies his “shit, execrable” behavior, which pushed him to hit Aurélie, he promises “more than 200%” that he only came to Lavelanet to get explanations. “So why do you write to him before leaving: “You’re going to lose everything and I’m going to kill him?” “, wonders Maître Puig, who represents David and his family. “No, but I say it with nerves, without ulterior motives…” tries Kévin, who hammers him throughout the questions from the civil parties who reread his threatening SMS messages to him.

The weapon he was trying to acquire at all costs? “It was to protect me, I saw that there were 3 of them in the apartment and I was afraid of reprisals in Lavelanet. » The audience roared loudly at these words. The dozen blows dealt to Aurélie? “I had drunk, smoked, I was angry… I was no longer myself, it was my nerves that struck for me and that’s when I see Léo (Aurélie’s son, Editor’s note) that I become aware of what I am doing. » Reasons to blame David? “I was jealous, but I had no animosity towards him. I took it out on her, not him. » “It's surprising, you return to your room, and in the marital bed you see your partner with another man, and this image does not inspire hatred in you”, quips Master Puig.

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Kévin even offers the beginning of an explanation to explain why it was Gaspard who hit David. “He told me that he had been victimized by him and his friends when he was little. That's my personal thought, but it's almost like he saw the opportunity. It was too good for him to pass up…” A growl escapes from the Lavelanetians on the bench; Gaspard remains with his eyes fixed in front of him.