Two of the officers have already filed appeals against the decision to prosecute. The incident, which occurred on January 3, 2020, has drawn widespread attention, with comparisons being made to the May 2020 death of George Floyd in the United States, an event that sparked global protests against police brutality.
Investigating magistrates concluded that the officers acted with “inappropriate, negligent, and imprudent behaviour” during Chouviat’s arrest. The court documents, which outline the grounds for trial, were reviewed by AFP and initially reported by investigative website Mediapart.
A fourth officer, a female who was present at the scene, will not face charges. The tragic events unfolded when Chouviat, who was wearing a motorbike helmet, was tackled to the ground by the officers. After losing consciousness, he was transported to the hospital in critical condition and died two days later, on January 5, 2020.
Investigations revealed that Chouviat had pleaded “I’m suffocating” nine times in just 13 seconds before he lost consciousness. His death has since become a symbol of growing concerns over police violence in France, amid increasing scrutiny of high-profile shootings during traffic stops and violent incidents at protests.
Arie Alimi, the lawyer for the Chouviat family, hailed the decision to proceed with the trial as “an important step for the family” and a significant moment in the judicial system’s handling of police violence. “The hearings will provide a critical platform for debates on how the police and judiciary function as institutions,” Alimi stated.
However, other lawyers representing the family, William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth, expressed disappointment, arguing that the involuntary homicide charge “distorts and conceals” what they described as “voluntary” violence against Chouviat. Pauline Ragot, the lawyer representing two of the accused officers, confirmed to AFP that she had appealed the December 17 order to send her clients to trial.
