It's a sordid attack that reveals the extent to which poverty can arouse violent desires. Four Romanian nationals, aged 22 to 32, have just been indicted in Bobigny and imprisoned for attempted homicide and organized robbery. Their victim: Philippe, a 54-year-old man suffering from Diogenes syndrome, mercilessly beaten in his home in Saint-Denis on March 13th, for a few scooters and various objects accumulated over time. The case began that day, on Rue de la Saussaie. Philippe's sister discovered her brother prostrate at the bottom of the stairs of his house, covered in bruises and unable to get up. When emergency services arrived, the man was in critical condition: multiple fractures, a depressed skull, and severe loss of cognitive and physical abilities. He was rushed to the hospital but narrowly escaped death.
A gang determined to do anything for a few stolen items
The initial evidence gathered by the police revealed that Philippe had already been burglarized the day before. That night, two individuals broke into his home before fleeing, laden with stolen goods. A crowbar left behind by the burglars was found by the victim's relatives. Even more damning: the cell phone stolen from Philippe mysteriously turned off in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, where makeshift camps were located. A few days after the attack, alerted by another attempted break-in at Philippe's home, the police organized discreet surveillance of the house. On April 1, Florian and Rudi, two members of the gang, fell into the trap as they left the premises, their arms laden with new items. They were arrested and initially released, but investigators, far from giving up on the case, continued their search, particularly using phone records.
Trapped by their own confessions
The manhunt finally came to a close on April 3, when police arrested four suspects in camps located in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine. Searches conducted there led to the recovery of several stolen phones from Philippe's home. Taken into custody, the four men quickly confessed, admitting to having spotted what they considered "a real treasure" accumulated by the victim during a raid. Faced with Philippe's unexpected resistance during the burglary, the attackers didn't hesitate to beat him with chairs and iron bars, before leaving him for dead. "Some blame others to clear their name, but the violence is proven," confirms a source close to the case. Now in custody awaiting trial, the four accused will have to answer for an act of rare cruelty, perpetrated against a vulnerable man, a victim of his own fragility.
