almost six years after the assassination of Father Hamel, the opening of the trial revives the wounds in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray

On the small square of the church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, in Seine-Maritime, Dalima passes every day in front of the round stele in memory of Father Hamel. “I see it very badly, she sighs. As soon as I walk into the church, it looks like I see him. You can’t forget a good person…”

The trial of the Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray attack opens Monday, February 14 in Paris, almost six years after the assassination of the priest, on July 26, 2016, stabbed in the middle of mass. The two assassins, two 19-year-old jihadists, Adel Kermiche and Abdel-Malik Petitjean, who claimed to belong to the Islamic State group, were killed by the police at the exit of the small church in the suburbs of Rouen. Today, four men are on trial: three members of the attackers’ entourage, tried for “association of terrorist criminals”, and a conspicuous absentee, the alleged instigator, the French propagandist, Rachid Kassim, presumed dead in a bombardment in Iraq.

>> TESTIMONY. Assassination of Father Hamel in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray: “I did not want to move so that they did not come to finish me”, testifies a survivor of the attack

It’s been five and a half years now, but for Jacqueline, it’s impossible to move forward: “We always think about it, it’s obvious, explains the latter. As soon as you pass here, you think about it, and when you go somewhere, and you say you live in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, everyone talks about Father Hamel…”

At the entrance to the church, portraits of Jacques Hamel are still hung, like this painting, which represents the priest, haloed, painted by a Muslim believer. “There are people who said they did not dare to enter the church, because each time it reminded them of Father Hamel and it made them sick.”, breathes Sébastien, the sexton.

“He’s all over the place: it’s impossible not to think of him. We lived together for fourteen years! We did everything with him.”

Sébastien, sacristan of the church

at franceinfo

At his side, Maria, his wife, stands on the step, just in front of the altar, where Father Hamel died. There are even small stains of blood, encrusted on the stone. She expects nothing from this trial: “We never forget, of course, she confides, sadly. But right now it’s even worse. It stirs, in there, everywhere, for everyone. And as for what’s going to happen now, with justice, let them do what they have to do. For us, Catholics, our justice, we have already done it.”

During the four weeks of hearing, the trial will rekindle the wounds of the faithful, raw more than ever.