Released Under Surveillance

While many were shocked at the swiftness of the arrest of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and the ferocity of the D.A.'s judgment before all the facts were known, the opposite type of reaction can be just as shocking. In Bar-sur-Aube a 57-year-old father was beaten to death by three "young people" following an argument. So far, the three are free, under court surveillance. This report is from l'Est-Eclair:

All three left the courthouse free men, late Tuesday evening. That afternoon, the men arrested for delivering fatal blows to Roger Correia, on Sunday in Bar-sur-Aube, were sent to the court at Troyes after being held for two days.They had explained again, in detail, what happened on that fateful day and how Roger Correia died from the blows he received after a trivial argument.

Before he was thrashed, this young grandfather allegedly made a remark to the three young men, ages 25 -30, because they were speeding down Rue des Acacias, a small street. "He's the one who went after us!" one of the three shouted, surrounded by a group of friends, on the steps of the courthouse.

He complained loudly that he hadn't had any food for two days while in custody, and fulminated against the "keufs" (cops). And, in the midst of those entering and leaving the courthouse, he lashed out at the victim, using offensive language.

Meanwhile, Roger Correia's family had to be told the news. No provisional detention was ordered, despite the requests of prosecutor Alex Perrin for at least two of the three: the driver of the car Anthony Matos-Perreira and one of the passengers, Ibrahim Genc.

Note: It is very unusual for the French press to give the real names (assuming these are real). But this is a local paper. One family name sounds Spanish or Portuguese, but the first name is written English-style, the other is hard to pinpoint. Ibrahim is Arabic, Genc could be Turkish? Albanian?

As for the third man, the prosecution had requested he be investigated for gang violence. The judge finally decided to hear him as an assisted witness.

Note: An assisted witness is a person who may have participated in a crime but against whom there is insufficient evidence for an investigation. If you are interested in the law read this page.

Regarding the driver, who tested positive for drugs, he was not incarcerated. Rather, he was put under investigation for a fatal beating and gang violence, as well as for driving while under the influence of drugs and placed under judicial surveillance. He is forbidden all contact with the witnesses and with the victim's family, and he may not frequent the neighborhood where the crime took place. Other than that, he is free to go where he pleases.

In the case of Ibrahim Genc, the examining magistrate heeded the request of the prosecution and asked for provisional detention. But the judge who decides on the questions of detention or liberty did not follow through. Instead, he granted still another release subject to judicial surveillance. The prosecution appealed to the Appeals Court of Reims. Ibrahim Genc, the most implicated of the three, according to the files, was put under investigation for a fatal beating and gang violence.

None of the three has a previous record, but one was said to be known to the police for another act of violence.

(...) violence that unintentionally causes death, is punishable by fifteen years of imprisonment.

A companion article at the same website speaks of the rise in crime in this once peaceful city. "Now it is like Paris and Lyon", they are saying. Here is just one reader's comment:

- (…) frankly in ten years I no longer recognize this charming little town that has become a nightmare for drivers and for pedestrians too who can no longer take a walk without being asked for a cigarette or for money by aggressive people who don't give a hoot about laws forbidding drinking in public thoroughfares. It's a pity that a small number of people can disturb the lives of the vast majority of citizens.

Note: True. It only takes a small number of troublemakers to disrupt our lives and to change everything. However, one must not think that by getting rid of this small number we can restore peace and harmony. There would be others. Massive immigration sees to it that the supply of trouble makers never runs out.

This article demonstrates that the miseries endured by Frenchmen in the big cities are slowly spreading.

According to Wikipedia, Bar-sur-Aube is an ancient city with vestiges from the Iron Age. At one point the city was pillaged by Attila, then later in 1318 Philippe V sold the city to Jacques le Croy but the inhabitants made him buy it back and managed to force him to agree never to sell it again.

Interesting. Perhaps the inhabitants of this city will have to make the same decision again, now that Bar-sur-Aube has been "sold down the river."