Soldier sentenced to eight months in custody for court escape in Tarbes
A 33-year-old soldier escaped from Tarbes courthouse in March during his trial for domestic violence. He was sentenced on Tuesday to eight months in prison for escape.
Spectacular escape from Tarbes courthouse: soldier sentenced
A 33-year-old soldier was sentenced on Tuesday, 25 August, to eight months in custody for escape and damage to public property, according to France Info citing ICI Béarn Bigorre. The man had fled five months earlier from Tarbes courthouse (Hautes-Pyrénées), where he was appearing for domestic violence as a repeat offence.
On 23 March last, at the end of this first hearing, the defendant had been sentenced to 16 months in custody. Under escort, he had managed to jump over the courthouse furniture, smash through the entrance door and flee. Found three weeks later in Saint-Malo (Ille-et-Vilaine), Brittany, he must also pay 10,000 euros for the destruction of the door.
"I lost my composure when I was told I would no longer be able to see my children"
At the stand, the 30-something attempted to explain his actions. "This escape made no sense," he confessed. "I lost my composure when I was told I would no longer be able to see my children." He apologised to his family as well as the police officers present at the hearing.
The court accepted the impairment of judgement, an argument put forward by the defence and supported by several psychological and psychiatric assessments. According to his lawyer, the former soldier retains effects related to post-traumatic stress following an incident ten years ago during a military exercise. This episode had resulted in his suspension for several weeks. Since this sanction, he has been on antidepressants.
Source: France Info