At the bar, the defendant requested a dismissal to prepare his defence. But he still answers a few questions from the president of the court and speaks for himself about the merits of the case. The thirty-something evokes a simple fight. “I defended myself, the video circulating on the internet starts when I reply but it is he who strikes the first blow” he said, pointing to the policeman, present in the room, cap screwed on his head, to protect his 8 stitches. The agent holds his head in his hands for a good part of the audience. At his side, on the bench of the civil parties, sits a young man. Witness to the violent scene on Saturday April 30 on the course of Martinique in Bordeaux, he tried to intervene and was injured in the leg by a shard of bottle shard .
The motive for the assault will be at the heart of the trial
Behind his glass box, the defendant details his situation: originally from Talence, delivery driver during a trial period, father of a 12-year-old boy who lives in the West Indies… He presents himself as someone responsible. The defense lawyer points to a media surge but also hatred. “We had public support for a profession that was not targeted in my opinion” estimates Me Blaise. Kévin Z. a a criminal record, with eight mentions between 2011 and 2016, for drug possession, driving without a license or contempt “but there is no mention of violence” insists his lawyer. She reports the words of his client who explains that the policeman would have taken out his business card not to calm things down but to threaten the thirty-something.
Version opposite to what the lawyer for the civil parties explains: “My client tried several times to verbally calm the attacker, he took out his card to try to calm things down, and it was just the opposite that happened, with a surge of violence..” Me Sapata talks about a traumatized family, in particular the two daughters of the policeman, 10 and 12 years old, present at the time of the facts. He insists on a risk of recidivism and thus quotes the words of the suspect who would have declared during his arrest two hours later on the right bank in Lormont: “All because I hit a police officer, he called his colleagues to defend himself this PD, he will resume…“Remarks also noted by the public prosecutor who requested continued detention, to avoid any pressure on the victims and witnesses.
I don’t see why I would be considered psychologically unstable, a fight is still a fight, we don’t hug each other
The president of the court quotes the report of the expert psychiatrist who recommends an obligation of care to understand the passage to the act. “What do you think ?” she asks the defendant. “I don’t see why I would be considered psychologically unstable, a fight is still a fight, we don’t hug each other“answers the thirty-something. The judges finally follow the requisitions of the prosecutor: the defendant will remain in detention until the next hearing on the merits of the case, postponed to June 14, 2022.