More than six years after the death of Nicolas Chauvin during a Stade Français Espoirs match, the investigation into the charge of manslaughter demonstrated the sporting misconduct of the tacklers but did not establish their criminal liability, indicates Le Parisian. The victim's parents plan to appeal this dismissal.
It was necessary to wait more than six years for the investigation to rule on the fate of the two players who tackled Nicolas Chauvin, during a rugby match between the Espoirs of the Union Bordeaux-Bègles and those of Stade Français, in December 2018, leading to the death of the young Parisian player. A dismissal of the case was pronounced, according to Le Parisien, a decision which the victim's parents will appeal.
The Bordeaux judicial tribunal demonstrated the material sporting misconduct of the two players responsible for a tackle at head height which rendered Nicolas Chauvin unconscious and the victim of a torn second cervical spine, before dying three days later. But the two tacklers were therefore not judged to be criminally responsible.
A call planned for the parents of Nicolas Chauvin
The dismissal order highlights “the differences and the lack of unanimity” of the parties heard, but despite the marked sporting misconduct, the investigating judge therefore concluded that there was no reason to pursue the two tacklers. This decision therefore implies the absence of a trial where a contradictory debate could have taken place on the action which led to this tragedy.
-In 2019, a first investigation seeking the causes of the death of Nicolas Chauvin was closed without further action and the parents of the victim then filed a complaint against less temporarily.
