Nearly four months after the death of Thomas, 16, killed during a brawl in Crépol, 11 people were arrested as part of the investigation. Among them, three were indicted and placed in pre-trial detention.
His death had created emotion. On the night of Saturday November 18 to Sunday November 19, young Thomas, 16, succumbed to his injuries after being stabbed during a brawl at the end of a communal ball in Crépol (Drôme). Almost four months after the events, the Valencia public prosecutor’s office requested this Thursday, March 14, the indictment of three of the eleven new suspects in this case. Their placement in pre-trial detention was also requested, the prosecution announced in a press release. All are targeted by the charges of “intentional homicide” and “attempted intentional homicide by an organized gang”, reports France Bleu.
Among the suspects, six “were released by decision of the investigating magistrates in view of the results of the investigations concerning them”, reports France Bleu. As for the last two, they are currently still placed in police custody, before possible prosecution decided by the investigating magistrates.
Monday March 11 in the morning, eleven people, including a minor, were arrested at their home in Romans-sur-Isère, and more precisely in the Monnaie district, revealed France Bleu Drôme Ardèche. According to local media, they are all of French nationality, and the majority of them are already known to the police. During their custody, the majority of the accused admitted their presence at the scene on the evening of the tragedy. If among them, some admitted to investigators having struck Thomas during the fight, all clarified that they had never used a bladed weapon, reports Le Parisien. “Suspects explained that they saw knives during the brawl, without being able to specify who was holding them,” explained a source close to the case.
During the searches which accompanied these arrests, clothing, undoubtedly worn on the evening of November 18, 2023, as well as at least three bladed weapons, were recovered by the police. History does not yet say whether one of the weapons is involved in Thomas’ death, specifies Le Parisien. Several phones were also seized for examination. To date, and while nine people have already been indicted as part of the investigation, doubts still remain as to the identity of the author of the fatal blow inflicted on the young rugby player.
