On Tuesday, before the Nice criminal court, the prosecution requested a 30-month prison sentence for Owen Cenazandotti, alias Naruto, with 18 months suspended and probation, meaning a one-year prison term, in the case of the violence broadcast live before the death of Jean Pormanove. A fine of 30.000 euros was also requested.
Against Safine Hamadi, alias Safine, the prosecution requested an 18-month suspended sentence with probation and a €15.000 fine. For both defendants, the prosecutor also requested a "digital ban", presented as a lifetime ban on publishing on the platforms.
A trial about the violence, not about the direct causes of death
Owen Cenazandotti, 27, and Safine Hamadi, 24, are on trial for aggravated assault, abuse of a vulnerable person, dissemination of violent images, and incitement to hatred or violence. The charges relate to the beatings, humiliations, and scenes disseminated over several years involving Jean Pormanove, whose real name is Raphaël Graven, and Stéphane G., nicknamed Coudoux, who was described as vulnerable and under guardianship.
Jean Pormanove died on August 18, 2025, at the age of 46, during a long live stream on Kickstarter. The autopsy ruled out trauma and the direct involvement of a third party in his death, suggesting probable medical and/or toxicological causes. The trial in Nice therefore focuses on the violence and humiliation alleged against the two streamers, not on a charge of homicide.
"Violence is the program."
In her closing argument, prosecutor Maud Marty denounced a drift built around filmed suffering. She argued that "The mere fact that [Jean Pormanove's] death occurred live demonstrates the downward spiral."She also described "A system of human abuse, not a slip-up or a provocation"adding: "Violence is the program; it dictates the script.".
Between 2023 and 2025, the live streams were organized from a studio in Contes, near Nice, initially on Twitch and then on Kickstarter after several sanctions. Viewerships could reach very high levels: around 20.000 viewers on average per stream, with much higher peaks. The channel had become one of the most followed in France on Kickstarter.
Naruto calls it a "play," Safine says she's not "proud" of it.
At the hearing, Naruto defended the idea of a staged performance. He spoke of a "play", " movie theater "He stated that the goal was to elicit reactions. He also maintained that the atmosphere remained positive and that the group did not perceive the harm caused by these sequences.
Safine adopted a more contrite stance. He said he was not " proud " and even be "Disgusted" of some of his actions. This difference in stance was noted in the debates, while the prosecution requested separate sentences against the two men.
A case that has become a symbol of the excesses of extreme streaming
The death of Jean Pormanove provoked strong emotions, as it occurred live, at the end of a broadcast marked by scenes of violence and humiliation. Before his death, Raphaël Graven regularly appeared in videos where he was subjected to slaps, insults, water fights, blows, or degrading staged scenes, often presented by the participants as entertainment.
The case now extends beyond the Nice criminal court. A parallel investigation is also targeting the Kick platform, examining its role, its potential payment to streamers, and the measures implemented to prevent such content. At this stage, the prosecution's requests do not constitute a conviction: Naruto and Safine remain presumed innocent until the verdict.
