Key facts
- Eleven defendants will face trial in France for the 2023 killing of Thomas Perotto.
- The murder charge is aggravated by alleged speech against "the white race and the French nation."
- The incident occurred at a village fête in Crépol.
- Three other individuals were allegedly targeted for attempted murder.
- Some defendants were minors at the time of the attack.
- The Valence prosecutor's office initially did not support the racial aggravating factor.
Eleven defendants are set to stand trial in France for the 2023 killing of 16-year-old Thomas Perotto, with prosecutors alleging the murder was aggravated by speech directed against "the white race and the French nation." The judicial order, seen by POLITICO, indicates that the defendants will face the juvenile assize court.
The incident in the village of Crépol quickly escalated into a political issue, drawing strong reactions from far-right figures. Eric Zemmour, a prominent far-right politician, used the event to highlight perceived threats from immigrants, while President Emmanuel Macron condemned it as a "terrible assassination." Marine Le Pen, another far-right leader, characterized the attack as the act of an "armed militia."
French judges are pursuing a group trial as the investigation has not definitively identified who inflicted the fatal wound. The order states that the alleged killing was accompanied by words or acts that harmed the honor of victims or a group based on their supposed race, ethnicity, nation, or religion, specifically citing "the white race and the French nation."
Some of the accused were minors at the time of the attack, and all are presumed innocent. The Valence prosecutor's office had initially recommended against including the racial aggravating factor, deeming supporting witness statements to be in the minority and imprecise. However, lawyers representing victims' families welcomed the judges' decision, while defense attorneys have contested the charges, questioning their applicability to their clients and signaling intentions to appeal.