Investigation unable to identify knife attacker amid multiple victim injuries
Police cannot identify the knife attacker despite investigating multiple injured victims in Crépol.
Event / Security
Thomas Perotto Murder Trial
Eleven suspects referred to juvenile assizes court for the November 2023 murder of Thomas Perotto at Crépol, with investigating judges upholding racist aggravation charges. Trial scheduled for late 2027/early 2028.
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2026-09-25 to 2026-11-02 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 25 Sept, 14:36 UTC
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What happened
Trial postponed to late 2027 or early 2028 pending legal appeals
The trial date for the eleven suspects has been set for late 2027 or early 2028 at the earliest, pending potential appeals of the investigating judges' referral decision. This extends the proceedings nearly four years after the November 2023 incident.
Eleven suspects referred to juvenile assizes court for murder of Thomas Perotto
Eleven suspects have been referred to the juvenile assizes court of Drôme for the murder of Thomas Perotto, a 16-year-old rugby player, who was fatally stabbed during a winter ball at Crépol on November 18-19, 2023. A twelfth suspect will be tried separately for voluntary violence with a weapon. At least seven of the eleven remain in detention, one under house arrest, and four under judicial supervision.
Investigating judges uphold racially aggravated murder charge despite prosecution opposition
Investigating judges retained the aggravating circumstance of racism and discrimination against white French people, overruling the prosecution's position. The judges based this on declarations from approximately 19 witness statements reporting hostile remarks such as 'We are here to stab whites' and 'Dirty French bastards,' though the prosecution had argued these testimonies were minority, imprecise, and contradictory among over 100 witnesses auditioned.
Investigating judges apply 'single scene' legal doctrine to collective prosecution
Due to a code of silence that hampered the investigation, judges invoked the legal concept of 'scène unique' (single scene), which allows all members of a group to be judged for a crime when all participated in the violence, even if individual responsibility for the fatal act cannot be established.
Three additional victims injured during Crépol violence
During the winter ball violence at Crépol on November 18-19, 2023, three other people were seriously wounded in addition to Thomas Perotto, who died en route to hospital. The suspects are charged with attempted murder in relation to these three injuries.
Criminal investigation unable to identify individual who delivered fatal knife blow
Despite extensive investigation including digital reconstructions, phone data analysis, and witness interviews, authorities were unable to determine which suspect delivered the fatal knife wound to Thomas Perotto. None of the fourteen young men examined during the investigation acknowledged wielding the knife, even during a virtual reconstruction conducted approximately one year prior.
Fourteen young men initially examined; two subsequently dismissed from investigation
Of fourteen young men initially placed under examination in the investigation, two have since benefited from a dismissal of charges (non-lieu), leaving twelve to face charges in the referred case.
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Eleven juveniles referred to court with racial aggravation charge upheld
Eleven juveniles referred to juvenile court with racially aggravated murder charge upheld despite prosecution opposition.