Through Normandy editorial staff
Published on 31 May 21 at 13:02
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Friday May 28, 2021, an inmate of the prison of Rouen (Seine-Maritime) was tried in court to have for five months harassed and threatened his ex-girlfriend, using a cell phone obtained illegally.
On April 15, a young woman came to the Rouen police station to file a complaint against her ex-companion, for malicious calls and threat of death. She explains that her ex-companion is currently imprisoned at the Rouen remand center following a conviction for domestic violence committed against him: “He calls me 20 times a day since he was imprisoned, and leaves me messages on Snapchat where he threatens me with death. “
“I am in prison because of you”
She gives screenshots to investigators who see an impressive number of messages: “I’m going to get fucked so hard that you won’t recognize yourself, you’re going to piss blood, I’m in prison because of you, I’m going to think about how smoke you. “
An investigation is immediately opened. Investigations on the telephone line used show that it belongs to the companion of the defendant’s former co-detainee. The use of detailed invoices confirms several hundred contacts with the victim. The telephone demarcation shows that the cell phone used has demarcated in the immediate vicinity of Bonne-Nouvelle.
Placed in custody, the detainee initially contests any involvement, before eventually admitting to having contacted his partner from his cell: “We both spoke well. “
“I know I’ll be out sooner or later”
Presented for immediate appearance, the man is immediately virulent in his answers. As the case is being investigated, the defendant proves to be impulsive, getting angry with the officers in charge of his escort: “I put on my mask as I want. Then the man attacks the president: “I don’t care about her, I didn’t cut you off, don’t cut me! “The defendant formally disputes the facts:” I am not the only one to have a phone in detention, to have a Snapchat account, she knows that I am going out next Sunday, she is doing everything to sink me. “Asked about his plan to leave, the defendant is again aggressive:” I do not work in detention, I do not care about reductions in sentences, I do my full sentence, I know that I will be released sooner or later! “
For the prosecution, the guilt is indisputable. Indeed, the representative of the company goes through the elements to be charged one by one. The magistrate stresses that “this is the third immediate appearance of the accused in less than 10 months for identical facts”. Faced with the impulsiveness of the defendant “who does not care about rules and court decisions”, and in view of “the ignoble and disturbing threats” held by the defendant, he requires a sentence of 18 months imprisonment, including six months. month with probationary suspension for three years, including the obligation to wear an anti-reconciliation bracelet, to take care of oneself, and the prohibition to hold or carry a weapon. He further requests the revocation of a previous suspension of up to four additional months of imprisonment, with immediate imprisonment.
At the word of the sentence, the inmate loses his temper
On the defense side, the defendant’s lawyer requests the release, considering that there is no evidence that his client was the author of the threats and malicious messages. She supports her remarks by recalling “that none of her client’s current co-detainees has been questioned, that the phones in detention change hands very quickly and that the demarcation is not precise”.
The court finds the defendant guilty of the charges and sentences him to 18 months imprisonment, including nine months with a probationary suspension with the obligation to wear an anti-reconciliation bracelet, the prohibition to approach the victim less than a kilometer away, to get in touch and appear at the latter’s home. The court also pronounces the revocation of a previous suspension up to four months of additional prison and orders his immediate imprisonment. At the wording of the sentence, the defendant loses his temper and copiously insults the president before promising “to crush the head of his ex-companion on leaving”. These facts will be the subject of additional legal proceedings. *
* This sentence is subject to appeal. Everyone is presumed innocent until all remedies have been exhausted.
From our correspondent Frédéric Bernard
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