Three French police officers face trial over beating of black man

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 9 Nov, 10:28 · Archive

Three French police officers are to be tried over the 2020 beating of black music producer Michel Zecler in Paris. Police stopped Zecler, now 47, outside his studio on 21 November 2020, accusing him of failing to wear a mandatory face mask during the Covid pandemic and suspecting him of cannabis use. They pushed him into the entrance of his office and beat him in an assault recorded by his studio's security cameras.

Officers Aurelien B, now aged 29, Pierre P, 37, and Philippe T face charges of intentional violence committed in a group, as well as forgery for attempting to cover up their actions in an official report. They face up to 15 years in jail. The trial begins on Monday.

The assault triggered outrage in France over police violence. Campaigners and rights groups saw the case as evidence of systemic racism in French policing, saying ethnic minorities receive harsher treatment than white people. Victims and researchers claim police violence is systemic, though authorities and law enforcement unions say it is limited to isolated cases. Zecler told Agence France-Presse he expected the trial to hold the officers accountable.

How it is being reported

• French policemen go on trial over 2020 beating of Black music producerThree French policemen went on trial on Monday, November 9, over the beating of a Black music producer they say was not wearing a face mask during the Covid pandemic, in a rare police brutality case to go to court. The assault on Michel Zecler, now 47, triggered renewed outrage in France over police violence, which victims and researchers say is systemic.France 24 · 9 Nov, 11:38
• Three policemen filmed beating a black music producer 'for not wearing a Covid face mask' go on trial in FranceThree French policemen who were filmed beating a black music producer they say was not wearing a face mask during the Covid pandemic will go to trial on Monday.Daily Mail · 9 Nov, 10:20
• Paris police officers go on trial over 2020 beating of Black manThree French police officers will go on trial Monday over the 2020 beating of Black music producer Michel Zecler in Paris. The assault, which was captured on camera, sparked nationwide outrage and renewed scrutiny of police violence and racism in France.France 24 · 9 Nov, 10:08
• French police officers face trial over beating of black man not wearing mask during CovidAssault on Michel Zecler in 2020 is rare case of police brutality reaching court, at time of heightened tensions Three French police officers are to go on trial over the beating of a black music producer who they say was not wearing a face mask during the Covid pandemic, in a rare case of police brutality reaching court. The assault on Michel Zecler, now 47, triggered fresh outrage in France over police violence, which victims and researchers say is systemic but authorities and law enforcement unions claim is limited to isolated cases. Continue reading...Guardian World · 9 Nov, 09:09

In this story: Michel Zecler · French police · Paris · France

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