Verdict Delivered for Man Involved in Deadly Drug Sale Raid: Six Years, No Incarceration

Six years. No incarceration after the hearing. The Gironde Assize Court delivered its verdict, this Friday, June 2, 2023, against François Arenas, a 24-year-old young man, tried since May 30 for having caused the death of his best friend without having had the intent to kill him.

Six years. No incarceration after the hearing. The Gironde Assize Court delivered its verdict, this Friday, June 2, 2023, against François Arenas, a 24-year-old young man, tried since May 30 for having caused the death of his best friend without having had the intent to kill him.

The tragedy occurred on January 6, 2018 when François Arenas and Justin Grouselle, alias “Paco” and “Pepito”, appeared, hooded, gloved and armed, in a pavilion in Ambarès-et-Lagrave, in order to recover some money from the sale of narcotics.

Nothing happened as planned since the raid resulted in the death of one of the attackers and wounds, some of them by gunshot, on the occupants of the house targeted. Because the latter, a mother and her two sons, did not let themselves go and defended themselves against this nocturnal intrusion.

Tear gas canister emptied, making the narrow corridor unbreathable and visibility almost zero in the dark, cries, grabs, punches and fire: the greatest confusion would then have reigned. When the light was turned on again, Justin Grouselle did not get up, fatally shot.

Eight years required

For the Advocate General, Éric Legrand, there was no doubt that the accused did not want to kill his friend. “All his life, he will feel responsible for the death of Justin, who also bears some responsibility for what happened to him by having chosen to participate in this raid. He required eight years.

While the civil parties left without answering their questions, the defense lawyer intended to prevent his client from returning to prison, “this rotten place”. Mission accomplished for Mr.^e Alexandre Novion who found, “in life itself, a sum of extenuating circumstances”.

After nearly two years in pre-trial detention, François Arenas was released at the end of 2019. Five years have passed since the events. He rebuilt his life. He appeared free and left free. His sentence should be adjusted soon.