“We are awaiting explanations for the many shortcomings that seem to have accumulated”declared Wednesday March 30 on franceinfo Me Sylvain Cormier, one of the three lawyers of the Colonna family while the director and the former director of the central house of Arles will be heard Wednesday at 10 am by the law commission of the National Assembly concerning the fatal attack on Yvan Colonna on March 2.
>> Death of Yvan Colonna: an investigation report explains, in part, why no one intervened during the attack at Arles prison
“When I say ‘failures’, in fact, I should say these absolutely improbable things, these things which should never have happened and which nevertheless happened by accumulating”says Me Sylvain Cormier. “For example, Yvan Colonna should never have been left alone, as a particularly flagged prisoner, with another particularly flagged prisoner”. The sports hall in which the aggression of the Corsican separatist took place “should have been open, it was closed”still assures the lawyer of the Colonna family.
According to information from franceinfo, two video surveillance cameras were installed in this sports hall but neither of the two officers responsible for watching the images saw the attack. In a report that franceinfo was able to consult, the director of the prison explains in particular that only part of the more than 280 cameras appears on their screens. “What’s the point of putting 280 cameras if you don’t have the monitors to see what they’re supposed to film?”wonders Me Sylvain Cormier who is not “not at all convinced by these explanations.
“I’m not even sure that’s the truth, it seems impossible to me that there isn’t a scrolling of screens or mosaics.”
Me Sylvain Cormierat franceinfo
The management also mentions a maintenance operation that took place that day which, according to the prison director, required “unplug all screens for a few minutes”. “This is one of the elements that challenges”reacts Me Sylvain Cormier. “As far as we know” that the aggressor “tried everything to make it look like an accident. He called the supervisors to say that Yvan Colonna was unwell, he is going to help give first aid, apparently. He gives me the impression of having acted as if he believed the cameras weren’t working. There are really convincing explanations that will have to be given, but I doubt that it is possible”, concludes Mr. Cormier. According to him, there was “minimum negligence and maybe it’s more serious than that.”