“An absurd, meaningless crime”: the trial of the murder of police officer Eric Masson opens Monday in Avignon

Le brigadier Eric Masson avait 36 ans. Midi Libre – JEAN MICHEL MART

Ilias Akoudad, 23, denies having shot the 36-year-old brigadier twice on May 5, 2021, in a small street in the city center of the City of the Popes, known to be a place for deals. Defended by Me Frank Berton, he faces life imprisonment. Two other accused appear free, for having protected him after the crime. 

Three years after his death, which triggered a shock wave throughout the region, the trial of the murder of police officer Eric Masson, 36, killed by two bullets fired at very short distance on May 5, 2021 in a small street in Avignon, while he was intervening in civilian clothes at a deal location, opens Monday February 19 before the court of #39;assesses du Vaucluse.

Arrested in his escape by the PJ in Remoulins

In the box, Ilias Akoudad, then barely 19 years old, arrested four days after the crime by the Montpellier PJ at the Remoulins tollbooth, as he was leaving towards Spain, and who has always denied his involvement in "this absurd, meaningless crime" that denounces Me Philippe Expert, the Nîmes lawyer, civil party for the family of the killed police officer.

"These are people who are devastated by pain and who know that the trial will not heal their wounds. These shots respond to no logic, no explanation. This is a huge misunderstanding."

A deal place, Dyers district

On the day of the crime, Eric Masson was initially called with his colleagues for an altercation in the street. But upon their arrival, calm has returned: they then decide to monitor a known deal spot, in the Dyers district, near the Carthage snack bar.

Quickly, they see a fifty-year-old woman buying a piece of cannabis, and decide to check her up, to identify her dealer. According to witnesses, Eric Masson holds his police armband in his hand. This is where two young men arrive, and seem to mistake them for rival traffickers.

Two shots to the chest and abdomen

"What are you doing there ? You're burning ?" throws one of them. Éric Masson steps forward: while he says: "Police, police",two shots ring out, hitting him in the thorax and abdomen, causing his immediate death. Before fleeing, the suspect fired a third time at the other police officer, who fired back, without hitting the target.

Referred to by two witnesses under ~ disappears right after the traffic, changes phone, even though his line was on the spot ten minutes before the crime, and organizes his escape to Spain, with an illegal taxi driver , which the PJ will stop.

Two cronies prosecuted for hiding and helping him

Accused of the murder of a police officer and an attempted murder of another, this young man six times convicted as a minor for drug-related offenses risks life imprisonment. Two of his relatives appear for having helped him escape the police, by hiding him in an illegal grocery store, set up in a cellar, and by finding him a drop-off point in Murcia, Spain.

Ilias Akoudad refused to participate in the reenactment, claiming to be innocent. But will he remain in this position during the two weeks of hearing, where he is now defended by Me Frank Berton, of the Lille bar ? "What' ;#39;he will say, this will be the whole point of the trial" evades the latter, who refuses to say more before the proceedings.

A national tribute was paid on May 11, 2021 at the Avignon prefecture by Jean Castex, then Prime Minister, to this young police officer killed ten days after another police officer , victim of a terrorist attack at the Rambouillet police station.

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