Death of master corporal Emmanuel Cueff in Montauban: the accused sentenced to 8 and 1 year

“I'm innocent! People said nonsense about me… I didn't kick.” At the helm of the departmental criminal court, this Tuesday, December 10, 2024, Jimmy Medou, one of the accused in the fatal attack on Emmanuel Cueff in October 2021 in front of the Le Nautic bar in Montaubanfirmly rejects the charges against him.

Free at the hearing, unlike his cousin Sony Ugal, already incarcerated for three years in pre-trial detention, the Stade Beaumontois rugby player and construction entrepreneur risks more in this trial.

A key testimony under fire from critics

Already the day before, his lawyer had launched the charge, undermining the statements of witnesses. “During your custody, you are shown the photo of Medou on a photographic board, you do not recognize it”, indicates M^e Nicolas Antonescoux by questioning one of the key witnesses who helped the victim.

“During the reconstruction, you say: ‘it seems to me that he kicked him on the ground’. So nothing is certain,” he continues. “Today, you mention that the impact could have been made while the victim was standing,” insists the lawyer.

The witness explains his hesitations by the threats he received, compromising the clarity of his statements. The Montalbanese lawyer intensifies his offensive against one of the cousins ​​of the main accused: Sony Ugal. This one is one of the three witnesses incriminating Jimmy Medou.

“What’s your story with your cousin Jimmy? Was he better than you at rugby?”, says M^e Antonescoux.

— No, it's personal.

— It's not because your wife called him to discuss your relationship problems?, argues the lawyer.

“That has nothing to do with it,” says the witness on the stand.

— You didn't go to see Jimmy with your father following your custody to tell him that you had lied about him?, drives the point home M^e Antonescoux, now the pressure on the witness.

— No, I went to tell him that I had dumped him while I was in police custody. That's how it is with us (travelers), I told him straight in the eyes.

“It was just a question of honor then,” quips the lawyer.

The witness leaves the room, his face reddened, without a glance at Jimmy Medou, who has to bend his legs to let him out of the courtroom.

An offensive defense in the face of “fuzzy” accusations

Faced with questions from President Ratinaud, Jimmy Medou categorically denies the accusations against him. “Séverine Cueff saw you kick her husband,” the judge reminded her.

— I know she's sad, but I have nothing to do with it. This affair caused me to lose clients. It’s very hard,” laments the 24-year-old from Beaumont.

— The anonymous calls, your cousin and this witness, are they all lying?, insists the president.

— Everything is false. My cousin, he's been jealous of me since kindergarten. He didn't like that I was number 10 in rugby and him on the sidelines”, alleges the suspect. The latter also mentions among his informers a former conquest who could not have digested their break-up. “She told me said: 'I'm going to ruin your life!'”

A fatal argument over a cigarette?

Sony Ugal, for his part, admits to having punched Emmanuel Cueff twice. His lawyer, M^e Guy Debuisson maintains that these blows cannot be directly linked to the death of the victim. “Strikes to the face do not cause such damage. What killed Cueff was his fall when he hit the sidewalk,” argues the Toulouse tenor, emphasizing the victim’s advanced state of alcoholism ( 2.2 g/L), which would have prevented him from reacting to protect himself.

The tragedy probably originated from an argument over a cigarette, exacerbated by the state of intoxication of both parties. This is, as it stands, the only motive that the victim's family will be able to retain at the end of the trial.

Following the requisitions, the court sentenced Sony Ugal to 8 years of imprisonment and his cousin Jimmy Medou to 3 years, including 2 years suspended.