Trial of three officers in Cédric Chouviat death postponed to June 2027
The trial over Cédric Chouviat's death has been postponed from October 2026 to June 2027.
Event / Conflict
France Police Excessive Force Investigation
Investigation into alleged police violence during student protests in France, including a case where a 16-year-old student was struck in the eye with a rubber bullet in Tours, leading to charges against an officer. Part of 36 ongoing investigations into police conduct during student movement.
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2026-10-14 to 2026-10-28 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 14 Oct, 15:07 UTC
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What happened
Trial of three police officers for involuntary homicide scheduled for October 2026 in Paris
Three police officers, identified as Michaël P., Arnaud B. and Ludovic F., aged 40, 35 and 30, were scheduled to stand trial before the Paris criminal court on October 26-27, 2026 on charges of involuntary homicide. They have been under judicial supervision since July 2020.
Police restrain Cédric Chouviat face down while he repeatedly says he is suffocating
During the arrest, Cédric Chouviat was held face down on his stomach with his helmet still on for more than one minute and thirty seconds. In video recorded by Chouviat himself, he said 'j'étouffe' (I am suffocating) nine times over about 13 seconds. The officers stated that they did not hear him.
Three of four officers sent to criminal court for involuntary homicide in Cédric Chouviat case
In December 2024, three of the four police officers present at the January 2020 stop of Cédric Chouviat were referred to the criminal court (tribunal correctionnel) on charges of involuntary homicide.
Défenseure des droits finds officers' conduct inadequate in Cédric Chouviat case
In a decision made public in April 2026, the Défenseure des droits found that the police officers' conduct was inadequate, negligent and imprudent, and that they used force that was disproportionate.
Cédric Chouviat stopped by four police officers on a scooter in Paris
On January 3, 2020, around 10:00, four police officers stopped Cédric Chouviat, a delivery driver riding a scooter, at the intersection of quai Branly and avenue de Suffren in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. The stop concerned phone use while riding and an illegible license plate. Chouviat was issued a ticket, then arrested for insulting officers after calling them 'clowns' and 'pauvres types'.
Trial of three police officers for involuntary homicide in death of Cédric Chouviat postponed to June 2027
The Paris criminal court postponed the trial of three police officers charged with involuntary homicide in the death of Cédric Chouviat to June 2027, with three hearing days scheduled. The trial had been set for October 26-27, 2026, over two half-days. Lawyers for both the defense and the civil parties had argued that the time allotted was insufficient.
Cédric Chouviat dies at Paris hospital two days after police stop
Cédric Chouviat, a 42-year-old delivery driver and father of five, died on January 5, 2020 at 03:31 at the Hôpital européen Georges-Pompidou in Paris, where he had been taken in critical condition. An autopsy found asphyxia and a fracture of the larynx.
Police officer charged with aggravated violence in student eye injury case
On October 13, 2026, a police officer was placed under formal investigation (mise en examen) for aggravated violence following the eye injury to the 16-year-old student on September 30. The officer was placed under judicial control and prohibited from carrying or possessing a rubber bullet launcher (LBD). A second officer was placed under the status of assisted witness. Investigation by the police inspectorate (IGPN) determined that two rubber bullet shots were fired one minute apart by two different officers, with evidence showing the first shot coincided temporally with the student's eye injury.
Thirty-six investigations opened into alleged police violence during student movement
Since the beginning of the lycée student movement, the Interior Ministry reported that 36 investigations have been opened by the police inspectorate (IGPN) for alleged violence, of which four cases involve mutilating injuries. The wide scope of investigations reflects systematic police conduct review across multiple incidents involving student protests.
Investigation reveals questions about lawful use of rubber bullet force
The police inspectorate investigation into the student's injury revealed persistent questions regarding compliance with legal requirements of absolute necessity and strict proportionality for use of rubber bullet launchers. The investigation established that both the timing of the first rubber bullet shot and the eye injury were temporally concurrent, though police defense lawyers dispute causation. An open judicial inquiry was initiated with multiple investigating judges assigned to the case.
16-year-old student blinded in one eye during police operation in Tours
Maël, a 16-year-old secondary school student, was struck in the eye during a police operation on September 30, 2026, near the Balzac lycée in Tours during incidents involving school blockades and tensions between students and law enforcement. Medical examinations determined the injury was consistent with impact from a rubber bullet (LBD - lanceur de balle de défense). The injury resulted in permanent vision loss in his right eye. Total work incapacity was evaluated at 30 days, subject to possible complications. The student was hospitalized for approximately two weeks and returned to his family home by early October.
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Police officer charged after student loses vision in Tours operation
Police officer charged after student blinded by rubber bullet in Tours operation.