IN PICTURES. The poignant farewell to Mérick Mathoré, Guadeloupean soldier killed in Besançon

Monday 25th November 2024 06:03 PM

There were several hundred of them on the square of the Moule church this Monday afternoon, who came to pay their last respects to Mérick Mathoré. This is where the funeral of the Guadeloupean soldier, known to be a committed boy, without fuss and respectful of others, was celebrated. His loved ones are still in disbelief about the act of violence that led to his death. Grieving will be difficult for everyone.

It was a little after 3:00 p.m. this Monday afternoon (November 25, 2024), when the funeral of soldier Mérick Mathoré began at the Moule church.
Before the ceremony, the body of the Guadeloupean soldier, killed in Besançon, was displayed outside the building ; two marquees were installed on Liberty Square, for this purpose.

The body of Mérick Mathoré was exposed on the Place de la Liberté, in Moule – 11/25/2024.
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©Rémi Defrance

The crowd of people who came to pay homage to him was dense. This moment of contemplation, at one point, gave way to indignation, when some chanted “Justice for Mérick ! “.

The crowd who came to pay their last respects to Mérick Mathoré was dense, on the Place de la Liberté, in Moule – 11/25/2024.
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©Rémi Defrance

Some political figures made the trip, including the president of the Guadeloupe Region Ary Chalus and the deputy Max Mathiasin. The army was also well represented.

Some photos placed on site testified to the personality of the deceased, an active young man, very surrounded and very appreciated.

Photos were placed at the foot of the coffin. They bear witness to the personality of Mérick Mathoré, an active and well-rounded boy – 11/25/2024.
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©Rémi Defrance

Some relatives of Mérick agreed to testify ; poignant speeches.
Alan and Léo took the initiative of making t-shirts bearing the image of their deceased comrade ; They claim that Mérick was incapable of doing anything that could provoke the surge of violence to which he was the victim.
Marie-Lyne is Mérick's cousin. She speaks with tears in her eyes and sobs in her voice.
Everyone thinks of the young man's parents ; their mourning will be long and difficult.

Funeral of Mérick Mathoré: testimonies of Alan, Léo and Marie-Lyne – 11/25/2024.

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©Alexandre Houda and Rémi Defrance – Guadeloupe La 1ère

Mérick was nicknamed “Le Batt”. T-shirts bearing his image were made for his funeral – 11/25/2024.
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©Rémi Defrance

The mourning process will be long and difficult for the family of Mérick Mathoré, whose funeral was celebrated in Moule – 11/25/2024.
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©Rémi Defrance

Then came the time to enter the church, for a final farewell.

The crowd who came to pay their last respects to Mérick Mathoré was dense, on the Place de la Liberté, in Moule – 11/25/2024.
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©Rémi Defrance

Mérick Mathoré was violently attacked in Besançon, outside a disco, on the night of November 7 to 8. Plunged into a coma, he died 5 days later, victim of a “major cerebral edema“, announced the Public Prosecutor of Besançon, Etienne Manteaux.
His three attackers, who beat him, were identified. If two of them are already in pre-trial detention, one is still on trial.

When the news of his death spread, the district of Barthel (Le Moule), where he came from, suffered the blow. We went to meet his relatives there.
Saturday, November 23, 250 people gathered in Le Moule, to demand justice, after the fatal beating of the young 26-year-old Guadeloupean soldier. They all marched in the streets.