French police officers to face trial over death of man who said he was 'suffocating' during his arrest

Saturday, January 4, 2025 - Three police officers will face trial in Paris for the involuntary homicide of Cedric Chouviat, a man who repeatedly said “I’m suffocating” during his arrest in January 2020, a source close to the case confirmed to AFP on Friday.

At least two of the officers have already lodged appeals against the decision to prosecute. The de@th of 42-year-old Chouviat, after being tackled to the ground by police, has drawn comparisons to the May 2020 de@th of George Floyd in the United States, which sparked global protests against police brutality.

Investigating magistrates concluded the officers acted with “inappropriate, negligent, and imprudent behaviour” during Chouviat’s arrest, according to a document ordering the trial, seen by AFP after first being reported by investigative website Mediapart.

A fourth officer, a female present at the scene, will not face trial. Chouviat was tackled while wearing his motorbike helmet during his arrest on January 3, 2020. He was transported to the hospital in critical condition after losing consciousness and died on January 5.

Six months later, investigative details revealed that Chouviat had said “I’m suffocating” nine times within 13 seconds before losing consciousness.

The case became a symbol of police violence in France, where incidents involving high-profile shootings during traffic stops and injuries during protests have drawn increasing scrutiny.

Arie Alimi, the Chouviat family’s lawyer, called the decision to proceed with the trial “an important step for the family” and a significant move in the judicial system’s handling of police violence.

“The hearings will be the time and place for important debates about how the police and judiciary work as institutions,” he said.

However, lawyers William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth, also representing the family, expressed disappointment that the involuntary homicide charge “distorts and conceals” what they described as “voluntary” violence against Chouviat. Pauline Ragot, representing two of the officers, confirmed to AFP that she had appealed the December 17 order sending her clients to trial.