Three police officers tried for death of courier Cédric Chouviat in Paris
Six years after the death of courier Cédric Chouviat during an arrest in Paris, three police officers are appearing in court for involuntary manslaughter. The man died of asphyxiation with laryngeal fracture in January 2020.
Trial for involuntary manslaughter
On 3 January 2020, Cédric Chouviat, a 42-year-old courier and father of five children, was arrested on Quai Branly in Paris during a road check. According to Le Nouvel Obs, the man repeated nine times "I can't breathe!" while three police officers held him pinned to the ground, his scooter helmet still on his head.
Chouviat collapsed during the arrest. He died two days later in hospital from asphyxiation with laryngeal fracture. The three police officers accused — Mickaël P., Arnaud B. and Ludovic F. — are being tried for involuntary manslaughter before the Paris criminal court starting Monday 26 October.
His wife and five children, who have joined as civil parties, remain mobilised for this proceeding. The death has reignited public debate over arrest practices and the safety of citizens during police checks.
Source: Le Nouvel Obs