Arnaud Beltrame’s relatives testify on the sixth day of the trial of the Trèbes and Carcassonne attacks

As the trial of the Trèbes and Carcassonne attacks enters its second week, Arnaud Beltrame’s relatives were called to testify on Monday.

The sixth day of hearing took place at the Paris Special Assize Court, Monday January 29, at the trial of the Trèbes and Carcassonne attacks. The court heard from the relatives of Arnaud Beltrame, the gendarme who exchanged himself for a hostage and who was murdered by the terrorist.

Arnaud Beltrame’s mother came to testify to vigorously defend her son’s actions. “Arnaud is not only the hero of France, he is also my son”, says Nicole Beltrame, black and red sweater, hair pulled up in a bun. The flow is rapid, almost virulent: “Arnaud did not sacrifice himself, he had courage. His life was his homeland.”

“Dozens of young people wanted to become a police officer thanks to him”

In his turn, Damien steps up to the stand: “I am lucky to have been the little brother of the soldier and the warrior. It reassures me to know that he died fighting. When Arnaud was 15, I was only 7. We put black under our eyes and played war. He was the same person throughout his life.”

“Who dare win” : on his grave is engraved this motto of the paramilitaries. “I would have preferred that he got out alive. I’ve been mulling this over in my head for six years. But where he won is that dozens of young people wanted to become a police officer thanks to him”maintains Damien, before adding: “I want justice to be done, exemplary and very harsh towards the accused.” The president replied that “justice is a heavy burden.”

“I lost my life before”

Throughout the day, the court also heard from employees of the Super U of Trèbes. A painful and heartbreaking moment. For everyone, first there was this noise “from a falling pallet”. A few seconds later, panic at this cry “Alahu akbar”.

“I lost my life before”, say one by one the employees who parade at the bar. Huddled together, on the benches of the civil parties, everyone was close to Christian, the butcher killed at the Super U. “After the attack, it was a descent into hell. I could no longer take care of my son for a year and a half”says Celine, 30 years old.

For Charlotte, 33, it’s anxiety attacks at the slightest noise, “even that of the champagne that we uncork” Or “fireworks” . “I couldn’t take my children to the park or to the cinema,” she says. Impossible, for her as for others, to return to work, even six years later: “Today, I am unemployed because work is associated with death. We get up one morning and we don’t come back. I came here with big suitcases, Mr. President. I hope to be able to drop some off.”