Investigation leads to judges ruling out self-defense claim, sending police officer to court for alleged murder in the case of Nahel's demise.
French Cop on Trial for Teen's Death
Looks like Florian M., the cop who pulled the trigger that ended Nahel's life - a 17-year-old whose demise provoked a string of riots across France in the sweltering summer of 2023 - is now facing a murder trial. Two diligent judges, handling the case, have made the call to toss the 40-year-old officer to the court of assizes for a trial in connection with the voluntary homicide charge[1].
The defense attorney, Laurent-Franck Liénard, who's been shoulder-deep in the case for five months, with a stint in provisional detention followed by a release under judicial control, isn't too thrilled about this judgment. He's fighting this order tooth and nail. Yet another appeal to the Court of Cassation might be on the horizon. Once the appeals are exhausted, and the last bark has been heard at the appellate court, there's a chance we'll see a trial unfold before the High Court of the Seine, potentially in the second or third quarter of 2026, according to the prosecutor and the head honcho of the Nanterre tribunal[2].
A fellow officer who was on the scene that fateful day managed to dodge the bullet, so to speak, as he received immunity.
[1] Les Echos, "Florian M. : la décision d'instruction à la demande de l'accusation"[2] Le Figaro, "Nahel Merzouk : le procès de Florian M. pourra se dérouler en 2026"
The trial for Florian M, a French officer incriminated in the death of a teen whose demise sparked nationwide unrest, falls within the realm of war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news. In the wake of his murder trial, the outcome could potentially reshape crime-and-justice dynamics in France.
