The body of Antoine Garnier, 70, was found this Wednesday, November 13 in Gouarec (Côtes-d'Armor), near the town's mini golf course. This tragedy shocked the inhabitants of this town of 900 souls. Significant gendarmerie resources were mobilized to resolve this case, in particular the GIGN, the river and dog brigades as well as criminal identification technicians.
Wednesday afternoon, the GIGN arrested Alvin S., 30, living in Gouarec with his father since his recent release from prison. The public prosecutor of Saint-Brieuc, Nicolas Heitz, described this intervention as “difficile”adding that “the negotiations were long”. Another man, aged 43, had contacted the police earlier to report the murder. He said he saw a dead body in a friend's toilet when he came “deliver narcotics”. This forty-year-old, described by the prosecutor as
“with numerous criminal records”was then arrested.
The victim's body had multiple injuries.
While in police custody, Alvin S. admitted to having argued with Antoine Garnier on Tuesday, November 12 and to having struck the victim, causing him to fall. He then transported the body
“alone” to a parking lot, thinking that Antoine Garnier was still alive. “He explained that he then transported, alone, the victim to put him at the back of the parking lot and left him thinking that he was still alive,” reported Nicolas Heitz.
The autopsy revealed “several fractures and injuries to the face and thorax, as well as wounds to the upper limbs, particularly to the hands, made with a sharp object”. The prosecutor also clarified that “the suspect dragged the victim outside and left her untreated, in plain sight, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
A heavy legal past
Alvin S., originally from Saint-Brieuc, had a lengthy criminal record with 24 convictions since 2011, mainly for acts of violence and drug trafficking. In 2022, he was convicted of death threats and receiving stolen property. Wearing an anti-reconciliation bracelet, he declared that he had regularly used cannabis as well as cocaine and crack for several months. The suspect was indicted for murder and placed in pre-trial detention this Friday. The prosecutor emphasized “the extreme seriousness of the facts” to justify this measure.
Drug trafficking and denunciation
The second suspect, aged 43, admitted to selling drugs “in large quantities via the Telegram application”. During his arrest, police discovered 24 kg of cannabis resin, 1.4 kg of weed, 137 grams of cocaine and 13 ecstasy tablets at his home. The prosecutor indicated that he reported the crime because he considered Alvin S. to be “dangerous.”However, no link has been established between the murder and drug trafficking.
Tried on Friday as part of an appearance on prior admission of guilt (CRPC), he was sentenced to 24 months in prison, including six months suspended for two years, and imprisoned.
A judicial investigation was opened, in particular to verify whether Alvin S. may have benefited from complicity. The prosecutor indicated that “phones seized and traces of blood at the crime scene must be analyzed in particular”. Investigations are continuing to clarify all the circumstances of this murder which shocked the small town of Gouarec.
