Prison sentences have been requested this Friday by the public prosecutor before the criminal court of l’Hérault, against the two accused judged for their involvement in the violence that caused his terrible injuries. The verdict is expected on Monday, April 13.
“I feel that Lorenzo’s word is sacred, and that Lucas is being punished for daring to say he did nothing.” Defense lawyer for Lucas Barreto, against whom eight years in prison have been requested, Me Maryse Pechevis argued for the acquittal of the young man accused of striking the 19-year-old boy on the ground on August 23, 2020 in Lattes, leading to his paralysis.
While the latter is adamant that two opponents attacked him, Me Pechevis is convinced that his memories are distorted. Due to the violent impact he suffered, the coma, the heavy medication taken for weeks before being questioned by the judges, and the family account of what happened that night, spread by his mother in the media, based on the testimonies of his friends.
“I’m not saying he lied, but he was told so many times that it happened like that! I maintain that we are dealing with a reconstructed memory,” the lawyer affirmed.
Me Sandro Assorin points out that the forensics did not find any traces of the blows Lorenzo claims to have received on his body. “The body does not lie, the body does not forget, the body is the only witness that has not changed its version.”
His friend claimed to be in danger from the Pérols [Note: Pérols is a town in France]
Me Bernard Beral, in defense of Sébastien Plo, does not dispute the facts: the young man admitted that he ran over Lorenzo as soon as he arrived at the Lattes parking lot, where he had been called for help by his friend Brice, who claimed to be in danger from the Pérols.
“Without wanting to offend the victims, it’s an accident if we both fell,” the accused stated, where some described a violent tackle, where he himself was knocked out.
“We are not facing a violent individual, but one who was conditioned for thirty seconds by this call for help. Should we add another tragedy to an existing one? Sending him to prison will not change anything for Lorenzo Roques,” argued attorney Béral.
Because the public prosecutor Jean-Christophe Tixier requested five years in prison, with a possible deferred sentence, against Sébastien Plo, who now runs a car sales company in Nîmes.
The magistrate denounced “a tragedy that is the accumulation of stupidity, wickedness, and cowardice.” He does not believe the denials of Lucas Barreto, who claims he went down to the ditch next to Lorenzo to help him and prevent him from choking.
“That is not part of first aid gestures! What he is saying is completely fabricated to avoid his responsibility,” the public ministry stated.
Verdict on Monday, April 13.
