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No Charges Filed Over Death of Black Frenchman in Police Custody | No Charges Filed Over Death of Black Frenchman in Police Custody |
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A high-profile investigation into the death of Adama Traoré, a 24-year-old Black Frenchman who died in police custody in 2016, was officially closed on Friday without any charges against the three officers involved, according to lawyers for both parties. | A high-profile investigation into the death of Adama Traoré, a 24-year-old Black Frenchman who died in police custody in 2016, was officially closed on Friday without any charges against the three officers involved, according to lawyers for both parties. |
Charges had never been filed against the officers over the course of a contentious multiyear investigation that involved multiple, contradictory medical opinions. The closing of the case was widely expected. | Charges had never been filed against the officers over the course of a contentious multiyear investigation that involved multiple, contradictory medical opinions. The closing of the case was widely expected. |
But Mr. Adama’s death remains a rallying cry for those protesting discriminatory police violence in France, especially as the country grapples with the aftermath of a week of rioting in June. Those protests were set off by the deadly police shooting of Nahel Merzouk, a French teenager of North African descent. | But Mr. Adama’s death remains a rallying cry for those protesting discriminatory police violence in France, especially as the country grapples with the aftermath of a week of rioting in June. Those protests were set off by the deadly police shooting of Nahel Merzouk, a French teenager of North African descent. |
Yassine Bouzrou, a lawyer for Mr. Adama’s family, said they would appeal the investigating magistrates’ decision to close the case without charges. In a statement, he accused the magistrates of being biased in favor of the officers, arguing that they had dismissed the case over “uncertainties” that should have been debated during a public trial. | Yassine Bouzrou, a lawyer for Mr. Adama’s family, said they would appeal the investigating magistrates’ decision to close the case without charges. In a statement, he accused the magistrates of being biased in favor of the officers, arguing that they had dismissed the case over “uncertainties” that should have been debated during a public trial. |
“This order to dismiss the case, which contains contradictions, inconsistencies and serious violations of the law, is a disgrace to the judiciary,” Mr. Bouzrou said. | “This order to dismiss the case, which contains contradictions, inconsistencies and serious violations of the law, is a disgrace to the judiciary,” Mr. Bouzrou said. |
While the shooting of Mr. Merzouk was caught on a video that was shared widely, quickly creating outrage and prompting serious charges against the officer involved, the circumstances of Mr. Traoré’s death are still hotly disputed. | While the shooting of Mr. Merzouk was caught on a video that was shared widely, quickly creating outrage and prompting serious charges against the officer involved, the circumstances of Mr. Traoré’s death are still hotly disputed. |