On the sixth day of the trial of the three young men on trial for the fatal beating of 23-year-old student Bastien Payet, the public prosecutor requested fifteen years of imprisonment for two of them, Enzo Andolini and Oussama Zeroual, on Thursday, April 3. Both are accused of group violence resulting in death without intent on the night of March 8 to 9, 2019, in the city center of Reims.
An investigation deemed incomplete
For the third defendant, Osman Dogan, the public prosecutor requested acquittal due to insufficient evidence. This request was welcomed with relief by the defendant, while the lawyer for the victim's family, Mr. Gérard Chemla, deemed the submissions "unfair." On the civil party side, a close friend of Bastien broke down in tears when these conclusions were read out.
The proceedings highlighted the gray areas of an investigation deemed incomplete by several lawyers. The three defendants, who appeared free, denied having inflicted the fatal blows and shifted responsibility. According to a witness, two people allegedly attacked the victim, one of whom was formally identified.
A scene of dazzling violence
The violence of the attack was described by Bastien's relatives as brief but intense. In less than thirty seconds, he was violently beaten until he collapsed, unconscious, choking on his own blood. One of the accused is described as an MMA enthusiast, identified by one of the young man's friends as the main assailant.
Elsewhere, a young woman, Osman Dogan's ex-partner, is being prosecuted for perjury: she lied on his behalf before recanting. The public prosecutor has requested a six-month prison sentence for her. The verdict is expected this Friday, April 4.
