the hearing suspended after a request from the defense which denounces the “lack of impartiality” of the president of the court

The trial of the Millas accident, the hearing of which resumed on Monday, was suspended in the morning, the journalist from Radio France noted on the spot, at the Marseille criminal court. Fearing a “lack of impartiality” of the president of the court, the defense lawyer filed a motion to challenge the magistrate. The resumption of the trial is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. after the response of the first president of the court of appeal.

The lawyer for the school bus driver denounces in particular “exchanges of emails with certain civil parties” and certain “remarks” made in the middle of a trial. “The defense is not satisfied with the end of the hearing last Thursday”. Maître Jean Codognès filed his request on the basis of article 668-9. The Code of Criminal Procedure specifies that “Any judge may be challenged if there have been any manifestations between the judge and one of the parties serious enough to raise suspicion of his impartiality”which may lead to a new trial.

The prosecutor said “angry” in court, considering that the defense lawyer “confiscate the lawsuit” : “You confuse humanity with impartiality.” He estimates that “wanting to fire any wood is regrettable” while the defense has, according to him, “failed in the psychological follow-up” of his client.

Nadine Oliveira, the driver of the school bus, tried since Monday in Marseille for the collision with a train which had cost the lives of six schoolchildren in 2017, is “still in intensive care in cardiology” after a heart attack on Saturday, his lawyer told the court. “I saw her on Sunday at the Marseille-Nord hospital. I found a very weakened woman.” She has to undergo “new exams” this Monday, “particularly liver”.

According to master Jean Codognès, Nadine Oliveira was a victim of “tako-tsubo syndrome”also called broken heart syndrome, which occurs after intense physical or psychological stress.