Police raid on the Marels estate in Montpellier: procedural elements contested by the defense, alleged dealer acquitted

Une opération de police avait été menée aux Marels le 11 septembre dernier. ILLUSTRATION Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Lors d’une opération de la police nationale, le 11 septembre dernier, dans cette cité connue comme une plaque tournante de la drogue à Montpellier, deux acheteurs et un dealer présumé avaient été interpellés. Ce dernier, jugé en comparution immédiate, a finalement été relaxé.

On September 11, the national police raided the Marels estate in the Montaubérou district, one of the drug hubs in Montpellier. Several types of narcotics and cash were seized. Among those arrested was a 24-year-old man suspected of trafficking. The police saw him flee and get rid of a bag containing 60g of cocaine, 20g of weed and 540 euros. in cash.

Several procedural points contested

The latter was tried on September 13 before the Montpellier Criminal Court. A hearing during which he contested the facts, assisted by his lawyer, Mr. Paul Gallix. The latter highlighted an inconsistency between the clothing described by the police and that worn by his client that day.

Another argument pleaded: the impossibility for the young man to flee by running. “My client was shot in the legs at the beginning of the summer in the Lemasson district. He was shot with 9mm bullets. He still has physiotherapy sessions twice a week. He is unable to sprint." The lawyer argued other points for the defence. "There was no search to check whether the keys found on him were those of the house in which he was arrested (and where drugs were seized, Editor's note). My client does not live in the Marels estate."

While the prosecutor had requested twelve months in prison and the revocation of a six-month suspended sentence (the defendant had already been convicted in a drug case), Mr. Gallix pleaded for acquittal. This was pronounced by the court on the benefit of the doubt.

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