Murder of Aramburu in Paris: Le Priol sentenced to 26 years, Bouvier to 19 years
The Paris court of assizes sentenced on Friday Loïk Le Priol and Romain Bouvier to 26 and 19 years of imprisonment respectively for the murder of Argentine rugby player Federico Martin Aramburu in 2022.
Verdict in the Aramburu case: 26 years for Le Priol, 19 years for Bouvier
The Paris court of assizes delivered its verdict on Friday evening just before 22:00: Loïk Le Priol and Romain Bouvier have been sentenced to 26 and 19 years of criminal imprisonment respectively for the murder of Federico Martin Aramburu, a former Argentine rugby international shot dead in the 6th arrondissement of Paris on 19 March 2022. France 24 reports that the court did not find the crime to be premeditated.
The heaviest sentence was pronounced against Le Priol, a former 32-year-old soldier who fired the two fatal shots. The public prosecutor had sought 27 years against him. Le Priol had admitted to killing the former rugby player from the opening of the trial, whilst claiming he had "fired in self-defence".
Bouvier, 35 years old, had opened fire first, injuring Aramburu without causing his death. Two of his four gunshots had hit the victim. The prosecution had sought 20 years in prison against him.
The two men, former members of the GUD (Groupe Union Défense), a far-right movement now dissolved, belonged to the sphere of violent Parisian far-right circles. They had been tried since 7 September before the Paris court of assizes.
A fatal drunken dispute on Boulevard Saint-Germain
During the night of 19 March 2022, Federico Martin Aramburu was having a drink on the terrace with his friend Shaun Hegarty at the Saint-Germain-des-Prés café. At a neighbouring table were Bouvier, Le Priol and the latter's companion, Lyson Rochemir.
Security camera footage revealed an initial confrontation between Hegarty and Le Priol. When leaving the premises, Aramburu had grabbed the far-right sympathiser's hood to make him fall violently. An exchange of blows ensued, and the altercation continued on Boulevard Saint-Germain.
According to investigators, Bouvier got out of the vehicle driven by Rochemir to shoot at Aramburu. Le Priol, who arrived on foot a few moments later, opened fire in turn. The former rugby player died on the spot. He was 42 years old.
Flight and arrest in Hungary
The three accused fled after the shooting. Le Priol was arrested in Hungary whilst attempting to cross the Ukrainian border. Rochemir, for her part, was sentenced to three years in prison, of which 30 months were suspended, for obstruction of the course of justice.
During his final words at the bar on Friday morning, before the jurors withdrew to deliberate, Le Priol stated: "I will bear the weight of this guilt for life." He added: "From the first words of this proceedings, I asked for forgiveness. I will end with this request for forgiveness."
International career
Federico Martin Aramburu had notably played for French clubs Biarritz and Perpignan during his career. He had 22 selections with the Argentine national team.
Source: France 24 - France