Three police officers are on trial at the Assize Court of Seine-Saint-Denis, seven years after the violent arrest of Théo Luhaka, a young black man who suffered irreversible after-effects.
“I’m really very compassionate.” Standing at the bar, Marc-Antoine C. turns to his left when he pronounces this sentence. He is speaking to Théo Luhaka, seriously injured in the rectum during his arrest in 2017 in Aulnay-sous-Bois, sitting on the civil parties’ bench, with his back arched, in a blue down jacket. Perpetrator of the blow with his telescopic baton, this 34-year-old police officer is referred to the Seine-Saint-Denis assizes, from Tuesday January 9, for “intentional violence leading to mutilation or permanent disability”. “Of course, the injury is distressing. I am aware of that”recognizes the official. “This is a serious injury, and if I may, Madam President, I would like to renew… my deep compassion.”he adds, searching for words.
“I intervened to free my colleague during a very difficult arrest. The individual was rebelling, we never managed to control him. I used a blow taught in school, which caused these injuries “, develops the main defendant, thin face and receding hair, wearing glasses and wearing a black jacket. The policeman considers that “this move is legitimate”. “I really wanted to defend my colleague. We were in an extremely rare situation. He was not getting back up”he insists.
“Rebuilding yourself after that is very complicated”
Faced with these declarations, Théo Luhaka lowers his eyes, his hands clasped. Very anxious, the young black man, who celebrates his 29th birthday today and has suffered irreversible after-effects, made no statement to the media at the opening of the trial. At his side, his brothers, sisters and parents, also a civil party, came to support him.
Behind him is the president of SOS Racisme, Dominique Sopo. The mother of Nahel, this 17-year-old teenager killed by police officers in Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine) on June 27, 2023, also came to support at the start of the afternoon. Just like Amal Bentousi, founder of the collective Urgence notre police assassine, whose brother was shot in the back by a police officer in 2012, and Michel Zecler, black music producer beaten up by police officers in Paris at the end of 2020 The latter explains his presence at a hearing suspension: “I heard police officers express themselves in a rather astonishing way. I don’t have the impression that they understand that the victim in this case will have lifelong consequences. Rebuilding yourself after that is very complicated.”
“A very serious injury”
At the opposite end of the crowded courtroom, many plainclothes police officers are on hand to support their colleagues. Two representatives of the Unité SGP Police union, Linda Kebab and Jean-Christophe Couvy, made the trip. As for the three police officers on trial, they are seated side by side, on chairs arranged in front of the bar. They appear free.
In addition to Marc-Antoine C., Jérémie D., 43 years old, and Tony H., 31 years old, are dismissed for intentional violence with aggravating circumstances. If the first does not wish to make an introductory statement, the second declares in his own way: “I just wanted to understand the injury which was extremely serious for Mr. Luhaka, and that the trial today will do the trick.”
“A sword of Damocles on the head”
“I am sorry for Mr. Luhaka’s injury, but we tried to carry out the arrest in the best possible way, facing an individual who was not complying, who was struggling”develops Tony H. at the beginning of the afternoon, questioned about his personality, shortly after Jérémie D. Authorized to “take back the ground”the policeman assures that his “motivation remains intact”. “I try to do my job in the best possible way”, still assures the peacekeeper. Without making any self-criticism about the facts with which he is accused, points out Antoine Vey, Théo Luhaka’s lawyer.
A position shared by Marc-Antoine C. Faced with the assize court, the accused claims to have “lost everything”. “Overnight, you are treated with the worst label, which was that of a rapist”says Marc-Antoine C. Although he repeats that “Mr. Luhaka’s injury is distressing” and that he defends himself from any desire to “victimize oneself”he estimates that “In this case, there are several victims”.
“We police officers are victims in our own way.”
Marc-Antoine C., main accusedat his trial
Seven years after the events, the official, reinstated within the police in September 2019, today ensures “computer repairs” and is defined as “a police assistant”. “Returning to public roads is out of the question”he sweeps away in response to questions on this subject. “I want to help my colleagues by making their lives easier, by facilitating their mission. For now, my desire is just there”he maintains.
The official said to himself “unable” to project himself further, he whose “brilliant academic career, always straight and excellent”seemed to promise him a prestigious career. “Before this affair, I really felt invested with a mission, to flourish and grow humanly”assures Marc-Antoine C. “Some days I thought about putting a rope around my neck”confides the police officer. “I have been carrying a sword of Damocles on my head for seven years. What will be my fate? I don’t know.”, he declares in front of the court and the jurors, while he risks fifteen years of criminal imprisonment. The verdict is expected on Friday January 19.