The aggravating circumstance of racism was retained against all those indicted for the murder of Thomas Perotto in the village of Crépol (Drôme) in November 2023, we learned Thursday July 23 from a source close to the case.
The investigating judges reclassified the charges on the basis of around ten testimonies reporting hostile remarks against white people at the end of the village ball, in particular “we are here to screw white people”, specified this source, confirming information from Europe 1.
As their investigation draws to a close, they made this decision after receiving observations from certain civil parties, who regretted that these testimonies had not been taken into account previously.
Investigation completed
On the night of November 18 to 19, 2023, young people, some of whom came from the popular Monnaie district of Romans-sur-Isère, fought with a group of young people from Crépol at the end of the village’s “winter ball”. In a confusing context, they took out knives and seriously injured four people, including Thomas Perotto, a 16-year-old high school student and rugby fan, who died during his transport to hospital.
Arrested after the events, 14 young men were indicted, all for murder and attempted murder by an organized gang. None ever admitted to delivering the fatal blow.
In May, the investigating judges notified the parties that they had completed their investigation. A month later, the prosecution requested the referral to a criminal court of eleven of those accused for homicide and attempted homicide, without considering the aggravating circumstance of an organized gang.
Each of the parties then sent their observations and the judges issued a new notice of end of information on Monday. They still have to draft an indictment order, whether or not following the prosecutor’s orders.
