Acquitted after being accused of assaulting the mayor of Hem-Monacu
Fabrice W., 51, an opponent of the mayor of Hem-Monacu, was completely exonerated by the court. The case had nevertheless been reported as far as TF1.
Complete acquittal for municipal opponent accused of jostling the mayor
According to Google News FR — Crime (fr), Fabrice W., 51, presented as "the assailant of the mayor of Hem-Monacu", was entirely cleared by the court at Thursday's hearing. The case had caused considerable uproar during the municipal elections campaign, to the point of being broadcast on TF1.
The facts date back to 21 March, six days after the first round of the municipal elections. The outgoing mayor Bernard Delefortrie's list had won the vote with 65 votes, against 50 for the opposing list — on which featured Fabrice, in an ineligible position, and his wife, who was ultimately elected.
At the heart of the dispute was a disagreement over the management of the ponds: Fabrice accused the town hall of tolerating the sub-letting of pontoons by tenants. A particularly sensitive issue in the Somme valley, west of Péronne. That day, he went to the town hall for a meeting that turned into a verbal confrontation — without witnesses.
The two men gave opposing accounts. The mayor claimed to have been jostled twice, falling to the ground on the second contact: "I certainly didn't make it up!". Fabrice denied any physical contact and acknowledged only having knocked over a chair: "I told him to do his job, it's true that I was a bit angry".
Justice responded with a complaint, a period in custody and a presentation to the public prosecutor's office. The mayor's lawyer, Me Marc Decramer, recalled that "a mayor deserves protection" while evoking the "bad reputation" of a man with a clean criminal record. His opponent, Me Sérène Medrano, for her part denounced the "futility" of the proceedings.
In the absence of "any other element" than the respective statements of the parties, the court pronounced the outright acquittal of the defendant.
Source: Google News FR — Crime (fr)