Ariège. The driver who took the lives of Alexandra and Camille Sonac will be tried in February at the Foix court

The public prosecutor of Foix Olivier Mouysset held a back-to-school conference on Wednesday, January 15, where he presented an overview of the major legal cases of the current year. A key moment to take stock of justice in the department, and to inform the public of the main cases handled by the prosecution. Among the major legal cases discussed during this conference, the long-awaited trial of the driver who took the lives of Alexandra and Camille Sonac will be held on February 18 at the Foix court.

“The accused will be in the dock during this hearing”

Alexandra and her daughter Camille Sonac tragically lost their lives on Tuesday January 23, 2024 on the RN20, during demonstrations organized by agricultural unions and the entire profession. Around 5:45 a.m., the mother, a 36-year-old farmer and cattle breeder, as well as her 12-year-old daughter, were hit by a driver traveling at high speed on this expressway, while barriers prohibiting had been put in place. One year after the tragic loss of the two Ariège residents, the public prosecutor of Foix Olivier Mouysset has just announced the date of a highly anticipated trial.

“The aggravated manslaughter which took place on January 23, 2024, will be judged on February 18 at 2 p.m., the investigating judge issued his referral order at the beginning of January, and as this individual is detained , the Law requires us to judge him within two months(…). He will be in the dock during this hearing. Also, it is I who will occupy the seat of the public prosecutor during this trial,” indicated Olivier Mouysset.

To read on the same subject: Ariège. A rain of white roses fell for Alexandra and Camille Sonac

A tribute on January 23 in Pamiers

Also, the Young Farmers (JA) and FDSEA unions of Ariège have decided to organize a tribute ceremony, one year after this terrible tragedy, to the day next Thursday, January 23. For the occasion, a stele will be placed where the banner is currently located (on the ground between the Bouriette roundabout and the N20), at 10:45 a.m. in Pamiers.

“Almost a year ago, we were affected by an unimaginable tragedy: a car hit a farmers' roadblock as part of a demonstration organized by the JA and FDSEA of Ariège. This tragic event cost the lives of two of the most fervent defenders of Ariège agriculture Alexandra and Camille Sonac, seriously injured Jean-Michel Sonac and would mark a large number of us for life” reacted the unions.

A removal measure requested by the Prefect of Ariège

As a reminder, in the vehicle which sealed the fate of the Sonac family, three people were on board – a blue BMW – the driver, a 44-year-old man and two women unknown to the courts (one of whom is his wife). The Foix public prosecutor's office then indicated that the occupants of the car, all of Armenian origin and domiciled in Pamiers, were going “to an acquaintance domiciled in Ariège”. We later learned that the driver of the vehicle and his family, of Armenian origin, were already under an obligation to leave the territory (OQTF), the Prefecture confirmed.

On January 24, 2024, a measure of obligation to leave French territory against the driver of the vehicle, as well as his wife and their eldest adult child was taken by the prefect of Ariège, and was confirmed on March 21 by the Toulouse administrative court.

Also read: Ariège. Death of farmer Alexandra Sonac and her daughter: the driver's family expelled from the territory