Weapon violence against the mayor of Claira: “This will serve as an example”, four months in prison without adjustment

Marc Petit was the very first mayor of the Pyrénées-Orientales to be equipped with an anti-aggression beep, after being the victim of an assault with a weapon on July 3, 2024. A system aimed at immediately geolocating him in the event of danger and to trigger the intervention of the police which he was still carrying on December 2. While the accused had to answer for this matter before the criminal court of Perpignan.

On the day of the events, around 8:30 p.m., the mayor was driving home in the village, when, on a bend on rue du Grenache, a BMW vehicle was stopped in the middle of the lane. Marc Petit gets on the sidewalk, walks forward, and suddenly hears a loud blast of a horn. He gets out, gives his identity, takes out his elected official card and asks the driver to please move his car so as not to cause an accident. The insults fly, the motorist gets out and pushes the mayor. Residents leave their homes and are immediately insulted by the person concerned who almost physically attacks a 75-year-old lady before the elected official and a witness intervene.

It is then that the accused leaves for his car and returns “with a tear gas riot bomb with a trigger”, says Marc Petit. “He put it on my temple and threatened to press.” The police are alerted, the attacker, his voice ever louder, leaves the scene in a hurry.

“We’re tired of being the population’s outlet”

At the hearing, the young man, aged around twenty, ultimately did not attend, nor was he represented. But the images and videos of the attack which made it possible to identify him and which were broadcast, probably left an impression. His record bearing two mentions from the children’s court, he was sentenced, following the prosecution’s requisitions, to a sentence of 4 months in prison without adjustment. In addition to a ban on staying in the Pyrénées-Orientales and possessing a weapon for 3 years as well as the cancellation of his hunting license. Finally, he will have to pay 700 euros for moral damages to the mayor of Claira who had become a civil party, via his lawyer M^e Frédéric Bonnet, alongside the association of mayors of France (AMF) of 66, represented by M^e Delphine Joubes.

“That’s a satisfactory answer.”reacts Marc Petit. “I really thank the justice system which has slammed the table. There is a symbolic side and this will serve as an example to prevent it from happening again. Because they are tired of being the drain on the population. Honestly, I didn’t believe it and it encourages me to continue doing my job.”