The Doubs Assize Court found the young man guilty of the murder of Thomas Mercier, rejecting the abolition of his discernment, but retaining his impairment at the time of the events, in accordance with the demands of the prosecutor Claire Keller.
“I want to remain silent”: throughout his interrogation, the accused answered this sentence in a loop, to the dozens of questions asked by the Court and the lawyers. He remained impassive, his gaze fixed and empty, without giving any explanation for his action.
Why did he kill Thomas Mercier, whom he did not know? His reasons remain “obscure”, in police custody, “he spoke of hallucinations”, notes the prosecutor. Now, (he) imposes his silence on us, unbearable”.
Psychotic episode
But the parties agree that he acted during a delusional and mystical episode, a psychotic episode caused by the combined use of cannabis and cocaine two days before the murder.
On November 9, 2021 around 11:30 a.m., the accused went to a building in downtown Besançon and randomly banged on doors. Thomas Mercier, a brilliant watch engineer, recently graduated from the Ecole des Mines de Paris and based in Besançon for a month, opens the door.
The 30-year-old was then sprayed with tear gas, pushed inside his apartment and knocked unconscious with an Italian coffee maker. He collapsed on the ground before being finished off with 22 scissor blows, including a fatal one that pierced his lung and heart.
The attacker went back to take a shower, change his clothes and get a haircut. Driving his car, he drove towards a police vehicle to escape.
During the afternoon, he will meet several people to whom he will say that he “knows the Devil”, “has seen God” and has “killed a man”, and is ready to kill others.
Drugged “in all conscience”
He was finally arrested by the police at 4:50 p.m. and immediately admitted the facts.
“There was indeed madness in (this) gentleman, before and after the events, and I want it to be recognised,” his lawyer, Catherine Bresson, forcefully argued, demanding in vain that the jurors retain the abolition of his discernment.
“This man is not an irresponsible madman, but a man who took drugs in full awareness of the effects that this had on his behavior. He is responsible for it,” argued for the civil party, Me Jérôme Pichoff, castigating his “factitious and useful amnesia.”
