The appeal trial of the Millas accident (Pyrénées-Orientales) will open tomorrow, Monday October 7, 2024at the Aix-en-Provence Court of Appeal. This second trial, which will last three weeks, marks a new stage in the quest for truth and justice for the families of the victims, almost seven years after the tragedy.
On December 14, 2017, a school bus carrying middle school students was hit by a TER train at the Millas level crossing. This terrible accident had cost the lives of six children and seriously injured seventeen others.
Nadine Oliveira, the driver of the bus, was sentenced to five years in prison, of which one year was closedfor involuntary manslaughter and involuntary injuries, at first instance two years ago, before appealing.
A second crucial hearing
After a first trial, in Marseille, in a special room dedicated to so-called “extraordinary” trials, this time the hearing will be held in a classic room of the Aix-en-Provence court. There are still 123 civil parties, and the families of the victims who will travel hope that this time Nadine Oliveira will attend the entire trial.
In 2022, the bus driver, accused in this case, had a heart attack, caused by Tako-tsubo syndrome (or “broken heart syndrome”), from the first week of hearing due to emotional stress. His medical and psychiatric condition did not allow him to continue the debates.
This time, defense lawyers say she will be present throughout the trial. « Oui, Nadine Oliveira will be at the hearing tomorrow. His doctors allow him, despite his psychiatric follow-up for seven years”they confirmed.
New test for families
Families of the victims want the whole truth to be made known but this new trial will require a lot of courage. “The expert and judicial conclusions were perfectly clear and eloquent at first instance. Holding this second trial is once again reopening wounds, the emotional dimension is even stronger” declared Julien Audier-Soria, lawyer for part of the family of Yonas, one of the six college students who died in the accident.
The families hope to get clear answers about the circumstances of the accident. There question of the responsibility of Nadine Oliveira remains at the heart of the debates, as does that of the state of the level crossing at the time of the accident, December 14, 2017.
The hearings can be followed from Perpignan. They will be broadcast live, but this time at the judicial court, Place Arago, and no longer at the Palais des Congrès, as during the first trial.
Related News :