Our journalist Sarah Rebouh brings you to life the appeal trial of Nicolas Zepeda, accused of the assassination of his ex-girlfriend Narumi Kurosaki in 2016, from the Vesoul courthouse. It officially begins this Thursday, February 23. Discover our live in this article.
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10:33 am : The hearing is suspended.
10:27 : Nicolas Zepeda speaks in French. “The first observation that I would like to share with you is that on Tuesday morning I waited for Me Vey here”begins the 30-year-old by going into detail about what he thinks happened. “I am not responsible for this situation. I agree with Me Schwerdorffer for a real trial, I also want it”. He continues to meticulously detail his vision of things while unfolding his arguments. “I wish you understood that. I hope so, thank you very much.”
10:20 a.m. : “Nicolas Zepeda’s duplicity is limitless. He arrived this morning relaxed, almost smiling, while the civil parties were collapsed, prostrate on their bench. He is the one who sets the tempo, the rhythm. He is the one who takes control. He’s almost the victim today. He’s the one who wants to be retried, he’s the one who had 10 and a half months.” starts Etienne Manteaux. “Me Vey is not the first comer. We are told today that Me Vey is a liar. He [a été] turned overnight like a clean evil”, explains the Advocate General who comes to the defense of the Parisian lawyer and attacks the defense lawyers who have nevertheless agreed to represent the accused.
He chooses a lawyer, who says he will intervene, and who tells us today that it is impossible. Nicolas imposes his stranglehold on justice, while it was he who asked to be retried.
Etienne Manteaux, General Counsel
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“If a dismissal is decided, it will be a scandal. For the family of Narumi Kurosaki, for French justice. We cannot capitulate to the moods of Mr. Zepeda”, he said. It requires “solemnly” the holding of the debates, from Monday morning 27 February.
10:15 a.m. : Me Randall Schwerdorffer, lawyer for Arthur Del Piccolo takes the floor. “We do not want potiche lawyers”, said the lawyer from Besançon. “It’s also very difficult for Arthur Del Piccolo. Me Vey is not responsible for the situation. Nicolas Zepeda is responsible. I only want one thing, it’s a real trial, contradictory debates”. The lawyer from Besançon gives priority to the quality of the trial, over the urgency of rendering justice. “We are here to have a fair and just criminal trial. I rely on the wisdom of the court”he concludes before giving the floor to the Advocate General.
10:10 a.m. : “What is the guarantee that in a few weeks, a few months, Mr Nicolas Zepeda, of whom we were told today that he had consulted dozens of lawyers who all declined their interventions, what guarantees do we have that he does not renew this twist, this unsustainable way of proceeding in the eyes of the victim’s family?”, she asks, speaking again of “held ostage”. The Kurosaki family cracks up. Narumi Kurosaki’s mother cries loudly.
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10:02 : Me Galley, lawyer for the family of Narumi Kurosaki, takes the floor in turn and hopes that all eyes will be on the victim’s mother and sisters. “My intention is not to castigate the rights of the defence, I am attached to it. But there is an accused, who yes, I repeat, in my opinion subjects us to his wishes, forces us to come to terms with his whims and who takes us hostage”she begins.
Mr. Zepeda had more than a year to find quality advice. My clients have the feeling of always having to deal with Nicolas Zepeda’s desire for control.
Me Galley, lawyer for the family of Narumi Kurosaki
9:52 : Me Dreyfus, second defense lawyer, pleads in turn in a very offensive tone. “It’s an impossible mission!”, he hammers. Me Antoine Vey, former lawyer for Nicolas Zepeda, is singled out by his colleagues: “He preferred to desert three days before the trial”. “Our dismissal we strongly support. It is neither a whim, nor an offense, nor an obstacle to justice being done. It will be”, he continues.
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9:40 a.m. : “I am panicking. I accepted wanting to be of service, and in reality I serve the one who honors me with his trust. I cannot endorse a procedure which will be unequal, whatever people say about it”, he continues, explaining that Nicolas Zepeda told him that he had never challenged his lawyer Me Vey. Two versions are therefore always opposed, that of Me Vey who says he was challenged by his client, and that of Nicolas Zepeda. Me Portejoie continues his demonstration to justify his request. He also says “share the suffering of the relatives of the victim” and understand the organizational constraints related to a potential new trial. Me Dreyfus, second defense lawyer, pleads in turn. “It’s an impossible mission”, he said. Me Antoine Vey is singled out by his colleagues: “He preferred to desert three days before the trial”.
The trial collapsed Tuesday morning, due to the failure of some. We won’t make up for this trial, which is ruined. We are not going to artificially continue a trial in which a man has no lawyer able to assist him.
Me Renaud Portejoie, lawyer for Nicolas Zepeda
9:26 : Me Portejoie, Nicolas Zepeda’s lawyer, comes to the bar and will give “precise justifications which impose [le] adjournment of the hearing”. The Clermont lawyer launches into a somewhat theatrical explanation, to illustrate his inability to properly assist his client. “Let one thing be clear, it is not because I met Mr. Zepeda before that I had been able to have access to the file. Nothing! I discovered the file on Wednesday morning”he explains vigorously. “I don’t have time to read the file. I don’t have it today and I won’t have it on Monday. He has 8,000 procedure ribs”he adds.
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9:12 : The composition of the jury begins. The accused follows through a document in hand the declination of identities and scrutinizes each juror attentively. The draw begins. Nine jurors must stand behind the president, as well as four additional jurors. The first three jurors called are challenged.
9:03 : The hearing is open. Nicolas Zepeda is dressed in a casual outfit. In front of him are his lawyers Me Portejoie and Me Dreyfus. The various interpreters in Japanese and Spanish state their identities. The accused stands up and in turn states his identity. “My name is Nicolas Zepeda Contreras. I was born in the city of Temuco, on December 11, 1990. I am an engineer in business administration”, replies the young man, who thanks the president for the details provided.
8:55 : Uncertainty remains this Thursday morning as to the holding of the debates. Will the lawsuit be dismissed? Me Portejoie, defense lawyer parachuted on this file, had implied that he could make a request in this direction, the day before, when arriving at the prison to meet Nicolas Zepeda. In the courtroom, the atmosphere is very special. The lawyers did not open their files. Advocate General Etienne Manteaux appears with a very closed face.
The appeal trial of Nicolas Zepeda must officially be launched this Thursday, February 23, at 9 a.m., before the Assize Court of Vesoul. After a missed start, Tuesday, February 21, due to the absence of a lawyer to defend the accused, the civil parties hope that the proceedings will be able to begin calmly.
► Also read: INFO FRANCE 3. Nicolas Zepeda’s father unveils 14 arguments to counter the accusation during the appeal trial in Vesoul
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Me Renaud Portejoie, from the Clermont-Ferrand bar, arrived at Vesoul prison on Wednesday afternoon to meet his new client. He confirmed that this was not their first interview. Will he request the postponement of this trial? “We will discuss it with our client”, We he replied before rushing into the prison.
At first instance, Chilean Nicolas Zepeda was sentenced to 28 years in prison for the assassination of Narumi Kurosaki in 2016.
This week, follow live the debates in progress inside the courtroom of the trial of Nicolas Zepeda. See you every morning on the “DIRECT” article on our website.
► Find all our articles about the assassination of Narumi Kurosaki.