The Bourges public prosecutor’s office expressed its indignation on Wednesday May 1 after hateful comments were made on social networks targeting a magistrate, in the context of the murder of young Matisse in Châteauroux.
On April 27, Matisse, aged 15, “died as a result of stabbings received from Rahman M., a minor of the same age, leaving behind a bereaved family,” recalls the first president of the Court of Appeal of Bourges, Alain Vanzo, and the Attorney General of the Court of Appeal, Eric Maillaud.
In the case of the murder of young Matisse, a judicial investigation was opened at the criminal division of the Bourges judicial court on April 29 and the suspect was indicted on the charge of “voluntary homicide” and placed in pre-trial detention, while that his mother, aged 37, was indicted for “intentional violence” against a “vulnerable person” for having slapped the victim.
White march in Chateauroux Saturday May 4
The suspect, who had no convictions on his criminal record, had however just been indicted on April 22 for “violent theft in a meeting” by a Châteauroux investigating judge. He was placed under judicial supervision as part of this procedure.
“Since the occurrence of these dramatic events, hateful and threatening comments have been made, both on the Internet and on social networks, against a former magistrate of the Châteauroux judicial court,” the press release said. “Some believe they can criticize, in the context of previous criminal cases, the release of this minor,” denounce the two magistrates.
“Apart from the fact that this colleague, whose name is unfairly made known to the general public, has never intervened, in any capacity whatsoever, in the civil or criminal proceedings concerning the young Rahman M., we can only be indignant against the made, in defiance of the law which represses all forms of threats and hatred online and in the anonymity provided by the Internet and social networks, to violently criticize the legitimate action of magistrates who, in strict compliance with the texts and of France’s international commitments, only consider the incarceration of a young minor who commits crimes – whatever their origin – with the legitimate caution that everyone has the right to expect.
A white march in tribute to the young Matisse will be organized on Saturday afternoon in the city center of Châteauroux, the mayor of the town, Gil Avérous, announced on Tuesday.