Death of Nahel: the investigation is officially over, here are its conclusions and what will happen now

The investigating judge has completed his investigation into the death of Nahel, killed by a police officer in Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine) on June 27, 2023, AFP learned on Wednesday from concordant sources, confirming information from Le Figaro and RTL.

The notice of the end of the judicial investigation, opened for murder, was issued on August 2, according to the lawyer of Nahel's mother, Me Nabil Boudi, and a source close to the case. The teenager's death caused several nights of riots throughout France.

Me Nabil Boudi welcomed to AFP a notice of end of judicial investigation “which arrives much more quickly than those usually issued by the courts”. “But this delay, ultimately, is not so surprising, given the emotion and the disruption to public order caused by the tragedy”, he added.

“The shooting was not necessary”

“In our opinion, the judicial investigation has confirmed what we saw on the images, namely that the shooting was not necessary, and that the police officer should never have used his weapon fire", he continued.

Contacted by AFP, the lawyer for the police officer under investigation, Me Laurent-Franck Liénard, said he intended to "make observations for the purpose of dismissal". The lawyer for the second police officer, assisted witness, Me Pauline Ragot, did not wish to comment.

The parties now have three months to make observations, before the prosecution requests whether or not to refer the police officer who shot the car, who is under investigation for murder, to a criminal court.

Nahel M., 17, was killed on June 27, 2023, by a bullet fired at point-blank range by a police officer who was checking the car as it started up again. The yellow Mercedes then crashed into a concrete block a few dozen meters further on.

A first police version, according to which the young man had driven at the motorcyclist, was refuted by an amateur video posted on social networks.

Indicted and imprisoned

The author of the fatal shot, Florian M., was indicted for murder and imprisoned for five months, before being released under judicial supervision.

A reconstruction of the facts took place on May 5. In the presence of their lawyers, Florian M., his colleague present that day and several witnesses were confronted with their statements, in particular to establish whether the police officer who fired the shot was in mortal danger.

A confrontation took place in mid-July between the police officers, Nahel's mother and the two passengers present in the car with the teenager at the time of the events.