Death of Ismaïl in lift at Argenteuil: technician and two companies convicted
Eight years after the death of Ismaïl, aged 4, trapped in a lift at Argenteuil, the court in Pontoise has delivered its verdict. His mother hails "a relief".
Fatal lift accident at Argenteuil: three convictions for involuntary manslaughter
Eight years after the death of her son, Chahra-Zad Bennabti finally knows the verdict. "Even though we know it won't bring Ismaïl back, it's a relief," she told TF1 Info following the hearing. On Wednesday 2 September, the criminal court in Pontoise found three defendants criminally responsible for the death of the young boy, killed on 8 June 2018 in the Côté Seine shopping centre in Argenteuil.
That day, Ismaïl, aged 4, was about to exit a lift cabin when it suddenly dropped. The child became trapped at chest level between the lift cage and the landing, in front of his mother, who remained trapped inside. He died at the scene. "I didn't understand what was happening. It was really when I heard screaming up there that I looked up and I saw that my son's small legs were hanging," Chahra-Zad Bennabti had declared to TF1 a few days before the trial.
Sentences imposed
The technician responsible for maintaining the equipment was sentenced to 18 months in prison with probation for involuntary manslaughter. His employer at the time, Bagneux Hydraulique, received a fine of 80,000 euros, in line with the prosecution's requests. The manufacturer of the equipment, TK Elevator — formerly ThyssenKrupp — was sentenced to a fine of 225,000 euros, 75,000 euros more than what the prosecution had sought during the trial held in June.
According to expert reports, the lift had already presented malfunctions in the past: an oil leak reported in 2015 and a poorly connected hose. During the hearing, the technician acknowledged an error, without being able to explain it.
"An example" for the family
The family's lawyer, Me Yassine Bouzrou, praised "a good decision". "Usually, when there is this type of tragedy, the judiciary considers that it should be resolved purely from a civil point of view, from the perspective of compensation, whereas today the judiciary has understood that this behaviour constitutes criminal faults," he stated.
Ismaïl's mother, for her part, wishes for this conviction to "serve as an example". "We really hope this will be a lesson for them too, to prevent there being other tragedies and for them to avoid neglecting lifts in this way," she stated before TF1's camera. She also expressed hope that she could finally begin her grieving: "We're beginning to get some breath back, because our chest has been tight for eight years."
Contacted Wednesday evening by TF1 Info journalists, the lawyer for TK Elevator declined to comment on the judgment and indicated that his client reserved the right to appeal.
Source: TF1 Info