Eleven charged with murder aggravated by speech against ‘white race’ in France
Thomas Perotto's killing in 2023 was followed by mobilization from far-right groups.
Eleven individuals will stand trial in France for the murder of 16-year-old Thomas Perotto in 2023, according to a judicial order disclosed to POLITICO. The case has garnered significant attention, with accusations of the individuals engaging in speech disparaging "the white race and the French nation" leading up to the incident.
Thomas's death in the village of Crépol quickly became a contentious political issue, with far-right leaders like Eric Zemmour and Marine Le Pen framing it as evidence of immigrant threats or an "armed militia" attack. The prosecutor's office in Valence initially sought charges of murder and attempted murder, but later added a racial aggravating factor involving the reference to "the white race and the French nation."
The order sent the defendants to the juvenile assize court for trial, as the investigation has yet to determine who allegedly delivered the fatal blow. All defendants are presumed innocent, and some were minors at the time of the attack. The defense teams argue that their clients should not be held responsible for a racial motive, as no direct evidence links them to the words, actions, or objects leading to the killing.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
