A 31-year-old man was killed Monday evening after a drunken evening in a bar in Tucquegnieux. The victim was fatally struck down in the street by one of his acquaintances while driving his car. The investigation was entrusted to the Nancy Criminal Unit.
Tucquegnieux, a commune in Meurthe-et-Mosellane of 2,500 people near Audun-le-Roman, is in shock. The news spread like wildfire among the population: the traffic accident which claimed the life of a 31-year-old pedestrian on Monday January 13, early in the evening, was considered intentional homicide. In any case, this is the thesis favored by the investigation opened by the research brigade of the Val de Briey gendarmerie company and now entrusted to the Nancy criminal center.
For a futile reason
The events occurred around 9 p.m., rue Loris-Batignani. At the wheel of his vehicle, the alleged perpetrator, a 25-year-old from Tucquenois, deliberately drove into Dimitri Tirant, a resident of the neighboring town of Trieux. Dramatic epilogue to a first act which took place a little earlier, in a local drinking establishment.
According to the first elements of the investigation, the two men knew each other. Their early evening, with a backdrop of alcohol, seems to have turned into a dispute for a trivial reason. The suspect allegedly offered the victim a drink and was offended at not receiving thanks in return. The tone would then be raised.
In black anger
Quite irritated, under the effect of alcohol, the Tucquenois suddenly turned dear to himself. He would have spent his nerves on his furniture before taking his car with the firm intention of finding his evening companion. The latter was walking on rue Loris-Batignani, on the edge of the road, when the motorist took action. Arrested shortly after the accident, the twenty-year-old was placed in police custody at the gendarmerie before being transferred to the Nancy criminal center. Treated on site by the Trieux-Tucquegnieux firefighters, the victim did not survive his injuries. His body was transferred to the Nancy forensic institute.
Investigators continue their work. The latter are particularly seeking to know whether the Tucquenois made death threats against the victim during their altercation in the bar.
Yannick Pagliuchi
(Le Républicain Lorrain)
