PARIS — French prosecutors have requested prison sentences of 27 and 20 years against two far-right militants accused of gunning down Argentine rugby international Federico Martín Aramburú on a Paris street in March 2022, describing the pair as a “diabolical tandem” driven by a shared fascination with firearms and extremist ideology.
Advocate General Philippe Courroye delivered a sweeping and emotional indictment Tuesday before the Paris criminal court, where Loïk Le Priol and Romain Bouvier have been on trial for two weeks. Both men face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Prosecution Denounces ‘Criminal Dangerousness’
In his closing arguments, Courroye denounced what he called the “criminal dangerousness” of the two defendants, who are accused of shooting Aramburú following a fistfight in the early hours of a night of heavy drinking in the French capital.
The prosecutor recounted the men’s extensive history in far-right circles, noting their involvement with the GUD — a notorious far-right student union — and their “fascination” with weapons. He told the court that investigators found Nazi objects and symbols in their possession.
By contrast, Courroye painted a portrait of the victim as a “man of good” who, at 42, had “his whole life ahead of him” — a son, husband, brother and friend who was “torn away” from those who loved him.
Defense Claims of ‘Fear’ Rejected
Throughout his address, the advocate general systematically dismantled the defense’s arguments that the accused had acted out of “fear,” in response to an “attack,” or as a simple military “reflex.”
He pointed to the fact that the defendants chased Aramburú by car and shot him in the back as he was walking away with his friend Shaun Hegarty, having already separated from the initial altercation.
“Nothing adds up” in their versions of events, Courroye thundered.
It was because of what he described as an “announced chronicle” — an “outcome that could only be implacable and irremediable” — that the prosecutor ultimately sought 27 years against Le Priol, the alleged author of the fatal shots fired into the victim’s back, and 20 years against Bouvier, who opened fire first.
Both men, he said, had “administered their own private justice.”
Accessories Also Face Prison Time
Two other defendants also face sentencing requests. Antony S., accused of helping the shooters evade capture, was hit with a request for three years in prison, with 24 months suspended. Lyson R., who was present with the group on the night of the killing, faces a request of three years, with 12 months suspended.
Verdict Expected Friday
Defense pleadings for Le Priol and Bouvier are scheduled to begin Thursday. The Paris court is expected to deliver its verdict Friday, bringing to a close a case that has shaken the rugby world — particularly in Argentina and the Basque Country, where Aramburú lived and won two French league titles with Biarritz.
The killing prompted an outpouring of grief across the sport, with the Argentine national team paying tribute to Aramburú before the trial began and French rugby officials condemning what they described as an assassination rooted in far-right ideology.
