Trial in Aramburu murder case: family and friends distraught before Paris court
Relatives, friends and former teammates of the ex-Puma testified in Paris about the impact of Federico Martín Aramburu's murder. "Life is not the same," his friend Thomas Lievremont declared.
Testimonies in Paris: the man behind the ex-Puma Aramburu
The sixth day of the trial for the murder of Federico Martín Aramburu, held on Monday before the Paris Criminal Court, was dedicated to testimonies from those who knew him best. According to infobae.com, relatives, friends and former teammates described a man who avoided conflict and whose death left deep psychological consequences for those around him. The ex-player for Los Pumas was murdered on 19 March 2022, at the age of 42.
An investigator presented testimony to the court regarding the victim's personality: they described him as dynamic, attentive, respectful and generous, someone who sought to calm violent situations rather than escalate them.
The pain of his wife and children
María, Aramburu's wife, explained that she has received psychological care since the events. Upon learning of her husband's death, she suffered shortness of breath, palpitations, crying fits, anguish and inability to eat normally for months, according to details reported by the sports newspaper L'Équipe. Three children share this grief with her.
His mother before the court
Cecilia Aramburu, Federico's mother, appeared as a civil party and recounted how her husband received the news. That morning, he took a call from a friend who was asking what had happened to Federico and understood that something serious had occurred; he then contacted María, who confirmed the death.
"He received a call from a friend who wanted to know what was happening with Federico. There he understood that something serious had happened… So he called María, who told him that Fede had died," Cecilia recounted before the court.
With her voice breaking, she maintained that the crime could have been avoided. "I understand that this is the place, the moment and the setting to speak of Federico. But for us it is very difficult not to say aloud that this crime should not have happened, that it could have been avoided," she said. She added that her son came across people who went out "with violence within, with hatred, with firearms and a certain form of impunity." The two main defendants listened to her statement with their heads down, according to French television channel BFM.
Cecilia called on the accused to understand the gravity of what they did before reintegrating into society. "I believe we are facing criminals who do not know what humanity is," she stated, and warned that as long as they do not understand this, they represent a threat to others. "The doctor prescribed medicine for me so I could attend the funeral. During the funeral, I did not understand," she added.
Lievremont: "I never met anyone like him"
Thomas Lievremont, former captain of Biarritz Olympique and Aramburu's friend since they shared a team from 2004 onwards, also testified as a civil party. He compared his grief over his friend with the deaths of his father and his brother, both following prolonged illnesses, and maintained that time has not eased that loss.
"He embodied goodness in its purest form, he was someone reliable, calm, generous and respectful," Lievremont declared. "He gave happiness to people, he made life easier. I never met anyone like him."
The former player stated that the night of 19 March 2022 changed his life and that he still does not understand why Aramburu died. "Since then, life has not been the same," he said. As he concluded his statement, Hugues Vigier, the lawyer for Romain Bouvier, one of the accused, approached him to say that he had honoured the memory of his friend and his family.
Quesada wept before the court
Gonzalo Quesada, current coach of Italy and a close friend of Aramburu, wept as he testified before the court. He recalled a man who was "human, cheerful, generous, faithful and loyal" and assured that he never saw him lose control during the numerous evenings they spent together.
Quesada also referred to images from the night of the homicide that he had seen through the media. Although he clarified that he was not present, he interpreted Aramburu's gesture of pulling on Loïck Le Priol's hood as a defensive reaction to what he would have perceived as mistreatment towards his friend Shaun Hegarty at a neighbouring table.
"From the moment I joined Biarritz Olympique, we became brothers. When I found out how many friends he had…," said Quesada, who had to pause due to emotion.
Other testimonies: the osteopath, the teacher and the episode in the Camargue
A former osteopath at Biarritz Olympique recalled that he met the Argentine when he joined the club and that the relationship developed into friendship through a shared passion for wine. He recounted an episode that occurred at a bull farm in the Camargue: an animal escaped and lunged at him; while the others did not react, Aramburu intervened to prevent him from suffering serious injuries.
A former French teacher from the Basque Country declared that Aramburu and Hegarty sought to continue their studies while playing for Biarritz, as preparation for their life outside sport. She described him as a diligent student and grateful to those who facilitated his notes for him, and noted that he obtained his diploma.
"There is no bad Fede"
The reconstruction of his personal circle culminated in an idea that was repeated in all the testimonies: he avoided arguments and brought peace of mind to those around him. One of the testimonies gathered during the personality investigation summed it up forcefully: "There is no bad Fede."
The investigation contends that the accused located the Argentine and his friend Shaun Hegarty as they were leaving a venue in Paris, in the early minutes of 19 March 2022.
Source: Google News AR — Crime