Last Thursday, March 26, the Saint-Martin court experienced an unprecedented moment during a hearing in which SJ, 54 years old, appeared, on trial for violence against a minor under 15 years of age, resulting in an incapacity not exceeding eight days.
A family conflict that escalates
This is a complex case, closely monitored by the gendarmerie and the prosecutor for almost two years. On April 18, 2024, SJ, who rents an outbuilding on the family property, experienced a sudden power outage in the evening.
To reset the meter, he has to cross the property and go to the door of the main house, occupied by other family members with whom he is in conflict. He also suspects them of having deliberately cut off the power.
The situation quickly escalated: three women from the J. family, who were in the house with an infant, heard a commotion downstairs and discovered that SJ had broken in by cutting the padlock on the front door. A violent argument ensued, during which the defendant shoved JI, the complainant, who was holding her baby, to get to the electrical meter. The infant then hit a nearby washing machine.
The police, called to the scene, discovered a chaotic situation, with the defendant out of control, very agitated, and visibly under the influence of alcohol. “It’s an intractable case, with a family conflict over jointly owned property at its core, and very typical of Saint-Martin,” emphasized the lawyer for the civil parties.
A hearing interrupted by a crisis
During her closing arguments, the prosecutor mentioned the shortcomings of the investigation and the difficulty of demonstrating the intentional violence against a minor, the harm done to the baby being indirect and caused by the altercation between the accused and the infant’s mother.
A dramatic turn of events then interrupted the hearing: SJ, cornered and suffering from violent epileptic seizures, stood up, disoriented and distressed, and walked towards the magistrates. His wife intervened to support him, indicating that he was “at the beginning of a seizure”.
After the hearing was interrupted and the defendant was removed by security, the prosecutor, the defense attorney, and the lawyer for the civil parties, all taken aback, agreed on the need for further investigation. A medical and psychiatric evaluation will be required to assess any potential impairment of judgment, which could alter the outcome of the case. The case was adjourned until November 5, 2026. _THERE
Source: Faxinfo https://faxinfo.fr/en/tribunal-juge-pour-violences-sur-mineur-il-fait-une-crise-en-pleine-audience/
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