Death of Quentin Deranque: contested release of suspect, prosecutor's appeal
A suspect charged with wilful homicide in the death of young activist Quentin Deranque has been released on judicial supervision. The Lyon prosecutor's office is contesting this decision.
Appeal against release of suspect
According to TF1 Info, one of the men charged with "wilful homicide" in the inquiry into the death of Quentin Deranque was released on judicial supervision on Thursday evening. The Lyon prosecutor's office will file for a liberty petition to obtain the return to pre-trial detention of this young man, born in 1999.
Prosecutor Thierry Dran confirmed that the prosecutor's office would appeal. A disagreement over the maintenance of detention had already opposed a judge of liberties and detention to the prosecutor's office in February; the instructional chamber of the court of appeal had ruled in March in favour of pre-trial detention.
Circumstances of death
Quentin Deranque, 23 years old, was beaten to death by several masked individuals on 12 February in Lyon, during a confrontation between groups of far-right and far-left activists on the sidelines of a conference by MEP Rima Hassan of La France Insoumise. His death had prompted strong condemnations; a minute's silence was observed on 17 February in the National Assembly.
Investigations and charges
Between 17 and 18 February, and then on 4 March, police conducted waves of arrests. Nine men, aged 20 to 26, were charged with murder or complicity. According to a source close to the case, all were members or close to the Jeune Garde, a far-left movement founded in 2018 by LFI deputy Raphaël Arnault and dissolved in June. One of the suspects was a parliamentary assistant.
A few of those charged admitted to having struck Quentin Deranque or others, but all denied having intended to kill him. The prosecutor had clarified this at the time.
A second wave of arrests took place in September, targeting persons suspected of having participated in the violence preceding the death, without having struck him. Five additional persons were then charged with "criminal association" or "aggravated violence"; three were remanded in custody, two placed on judicial supervision.
Source: TF1 Info