Demonstration on 17 October in Paris: man dies, questions raised over police conduct
Christophe M., 59, died on rue du Château-d'Eau during disturbances on 17 October in Paris. His lawyer accuses the authorities of slowness and is preparing a complaint against police officers.
Death during the margins of the 17 October demonstrations
According to BFM TV, Christophe M., 59, died on Saturday 17 October at 18:56 on rue du Château-d'Eau, in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, after being attended to by firefighters on boulevard Magenta. The death occurred in the midst of chaos: hundreds of people were looting shops, barricades were burning, and police forces were using tear gas.
The Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation into "determining the cause of death". According to statements to BFMTV, the death followed "a medical emergency on the public road". The investigation was entrusted to the central police station of the 10th arrondissement. The body was transferred to the forensic medicine institute of the Paris police prefecture.
Christophe M., a freelance worker in live entertainment in Ivry-sur-Seine, had no significant health history, according to his lawyer, Me Youri Krassoulia. Those close to him suspect intensive use of tear gas on boulevard Magenta contributed to the death. The lawyer denounces the investigators' lack of transparency and a lack of diligence — six days after the events, no autopsy had yet taken place, according to our information.
Me Krassoulia is preparing a complaint to the General Inspectorate of the National Police targeting police officers for "intentional violence resulting in death without intent to cause it". The family reports having waited two days after the death before being called to identify the body. They also cite the absence of usable surveillance footage — all cameras in nearby shops had been smashed or burned, according to reported statements.
The Paris police prefecture referred BFMTV to the prosecutor's office for any further statement. The prosecutor's office states that "all necessary forensic procedures" will be carried out.
Source: BFM TV