Fatal stabbing in Béziers: “We don't have the right to steal a child's life like my son did,” says the suspect's father

Stéphane does not feel responsible for his son's actions, but he does not know how to appease the victim's family. Jean-Pierre Amarger – Midi Libre

Stéphane, the father of the suspect in the murder of a 16-year-old teenager, would like to meet the deceased's family to give them his full support. He does not want to forgive his son who destroyed two families. That of the deceased and his own.

Stéphane, William's father, a suspect in the murder of a 16-year-old boy on August 14 in Béziers, can't believe what happened. “What my son did is unforgivable. You don't deserve to die at 16. You don't walk around with a knife. This act has consequences for the young man's entire family. It's understandable. And by extension, for our family too.” Stéphane had been living for 9 years in a garage rented for 40 euros per month on Rue de la Coopérative in Béziers. He is on the street.

“I am angry with my son”

If this former paratrooper non-commissioned officer has been physically accustomed to living hard, morally, he explains that he is going through a difficult time. “Today, I am angry with my son. I am devastated by what he did to this young man. I regret not being able to tell the family, face to face, how much pain I feel for them. It is something that is eating away at me from the inside.” 

On the facts, Stéphane insists: “You can't say that my son stabbed someone because of a bad look. No, this affair has much deeper roots. My son and this young man have been in conflict for several months. All because of William's girlfriend who is making serious accusations against the young man. I'm not excusing anything. But neither of them should have been walking around with a gun in their pocket.”

On August 14, William allegedly stabbed his young victim, aged 16, three times in the throat. The incident took place at the bottom of Avenue de la Liberté in Béziers while the suspect was expected to take up his post at a restaurant on the Allées, where he was working for the season.

A problem that dates back

“I didn't understand what was happening. I replaced him so as not to put the service in difficulty. That's when I got the information. I had no more strength. How could my son have done something like this? ? I don't understand. He's never had any trouble with the law. I've never known him to have any violent outbursts." 

While trying to figure out why his son could have done such a thing, Stéphane explains that he reported the problems between the young victim and his son to the Béziers police station. He claims that he was interviewed by a police officer and that there is a report of his statement. Death threats were reportedly made more than six months ago.

He doesn't realize

Stéphane was able to see his son in court. He didn't get anything out of it. Not a word. Not an explanation. Not a gesture, not even a look. “I think he still doesn't realize what he's done. He hasn't processed the fact that he's in prison for years. That he stole someone's life and ruined his own. He was supposed to take his professional certificate in September to become a security guard. It's over. He's going to have to learn to live with what he's done. Right now, he's mute. I think he wants to talk, but he's not able to yet. I don't know why. Shock perhaps."

Stéphane doesn't want to forgive William for anything. However, he remains his son. "I'm going to leave Béziers to be close to him and visit him in the visiting room until his judgment. Then, if he goes further, I'll follow him. I'll be there when he gets out of prison. To keep him on the straight and narrow. He'll have to take responsibility. He'll have to listen and, above all, he'll make amends. And if he's a man, I want him to apologize to his parents. His gesture… I don't admit it. He has broken a lot of lives and he has to pay.”

The father lives on the street

Since the tragedy, Stéphane has been living on the streets. He came across some young people looking for his son. They wanted to fight him. “They were armed and wanted to kill him. Everyone needs to understand that he got worked up and that he acted in a fit of anger. But that doesn't excuse anything. Nothing at all. Up until now, this little man has been like a prince. That's going to change for him.” Stéphane says he's in danger in Béziers. He avoids people and mainly sees people he trusts. “You have to differentiate between me and my son. I did nothing and I have to take responsibility."

The suspect was placed in pretrial detention on August 20. An investigation has been opened and the investigation will be conducted under the direction of a judge. On the day of the tragedy, the suspect had fled and was arrested at the home of his partner's parents by police officers from the Béziers police station. I subscribe to read the rest