“Do we arm properly trained people?” Asks the lawyer for the passenger whose friend died

We hear that “the only sound of police bell”, regrets Tuesday June 7 on franceinfo Maître Marie Violleau, lawyer for the rear passenger of the car targeted by police fire on Saturday, after a refusal to comply in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. For the past four days, “we heard a lot of things but it remains only one story”presented by “part of the police unions” and politicians, insists the lawyer.

>> Paris: what we know about the death of a passenger in a car, shot and killed by police denouncing a refusal to comply

The front passenger of the car, a 21-year-old woman, was killed. The 38-year-old driver was seriously injured. The client of Me Violleau, also 21 years old, was not injured but she is shocked. The two young women had met the driver and his friend just hours before the tragedy.

“Seeing his girlfriend in the seat just in front taking a bullet in the head and realizing that this bullet was fired by a police officer supposed to protect the citizens, I think we are shocked indeed.”

Me Marie Violleau, lawyer for the rear passenger

at franceinfo

The three police officers who were taken into custody in the premises of the IGPN police force for “violence with a weapon by a person holding public authority”, were released on Tuesday, without prosecution at this stage. However, the Paris prosecutor’s office has opened a judicial investigation. This means that the investigation will continue and that prosecution remains possible.

They were “devastated”, “in tears” and “completely stunned by what is happening to them”, affirmed Monday evening to franceinfo the lawyer of the civil servants, Laurent-Franck Liénard. According to him, “they all expressed their deep regret at the death of the passenger”. He also says that these three policemen “are outraged that they were forced to shoot and achieve this result because of a fool who refuses to stop.” Me Violleau regrets that his colleague has “delivered a number of items from police custody to the press which are normally covered by secrecy. This may also raise questions.”

On the merits of the case, the lawyer believes that the police are using their weapon “at 10 a.m., in a crowded neighborhood, raises questions about the safety of people in France”. According to her, “You have to ask yourself who are you arming. And are you arming properly trained people?”

She recalls that “self-defense and the use of weapons are extremely regulated. Since 2017, the law has been extended and shootings are much more frequent”. Then, Me Violleau adds: “It seems to me that the law was extended to be able to protect against terrorist attacks, not against people who refuse to comply.”