The man behind the fire of three houses in Juigné-sur-Sarthe during the night of last Thursday to Friday was judged in immediate appearancee at the judicial city of Le Mans this Monday and sentenced to 10 months in prison with suspended probation. The disaster had mobilized 40 firefightersnecessity the evacuation at 3:30 a.m. of 24 peoplecaused the destruction of the framework of the three buildings and damaged several apartments. Prosecuted for “voluntary abstention from measures intended to combat a disaster dangerous for people” et “involuntary destruction of another person’s property by fire“, the man had to explain the reasons that led him to leave the premises in the middle of the night, without warning his neighbors when his apartment was already on fire. “I panicked“the forty-year-old stammers in his box.”When I saw it was burning, I left without thinking“.
A cigarette caused the fire
A cigarette left on a sofa was the cause of the fire. The latter did not “Fortunately“no injuries because one”gentleman and a lady honking woke everyone up. Do you realize what a human catastrophe this could have been?” asks the president of the court. “Yes, now I realize. I’m sorry for the victims” the man, father of two children, responds half-heartedly.
He goes and rides his bike for 40 minutes in the middle of the night
“Instead of shouting fire, knocking on doors, you cycle for 40 minutes in the middle of the night” childhood the president. After slamming the door of his apartment, the man goes down the stairs, goes to the cellar, retrieves his bike and pedals to Auvers-le-Hamon to see his ex-partner. “I didn’t have a phone. He’s the first person I thought of“. The president appears perplexed: “To call the firefighters 40 minutes later?“.
Accommodation was not insured
In the room, tenants and owners of the apartment are getting annoyed. “He doesn’t care“reacts Lucie.”My brother and I invested in this apartment to finance our grandmother’s retirement. It’s the work of a lifetime and in a few hours, everything went up in smoke“The tenant had also not insured his accommodation.”Who will pay now?“Lucie worries.”This is a loss that my client will have to pay for his entire life.” nuance Master Nicolas Bouthière, the defendant’s lawyer. The hearing for civil interests, in other words damages, will be held on March 25, 2025.
