Soldier convicted to eight months imprisonment for courthouse escape in Tarbes
A 33-year-old soldier who escaped from Tarbes courthouse in March has been sentenced to eight months in prison for escaping. He must also pay 10,000 euros for the destruction of the door.
Eight months imprisonment for soldier who escaped Tarbes courthouse
A 33-year-old soldier was sentenced on Tuesday 25 August to eight months in prison for escape and damage to public property, according to Google News FR — Crime (fr). The man must also pay 10,000 euros in damages for destroying the door of Tarbes courthouse (Hautes-Pyrénées) during his escape five months ago.
The defendant had already received, on 23 March, 16 months in prison for domestic violence with recidivism. Placed under escort at the end of this first trial, he managed to jump over the furniture, smash the door of the courthouse and flee. Found three weeks later in Saint-Malo (Ille-et-Vilaine), in Brittany, he was then arrested.
At the hearing during this new trial, the man gave his explanation. "This escape made no sense," he confessed. "I lost my footing when I was told I would no longer be able to see my children." He apologised to his family and to the police officers present.
The court found diminished mental capacity, argued by the defence and supported by several psychological and psychiatric assessments. According to the soldier's lawyer, his client continues to suffer the effects of post-traumatic stress from ten years ago during a military exercise, which had resulted in several weeks of suspension. Since that period, the man in his thirties has been on antidepressants.
Source: Google News FR — Crime (fr)