ツール事故起こした観客、実刑回避へ　仏で公判

【ブレストＡＦＰ＝時事】ツール・ド・フランス史上最悪規模のクラッシュを引き起こし、数十人の選手を負傷させたとして起訴された観客のフランス人の女（３１）に対する公判が１４日、仏西部ブレストの裁判所で開かれた。検察は、執行猶予付き禁錮刑を求刑。被告は実刑を免れる見通しとなった。（写真はツール・ド・フランス、第１ステージで起こったクラッシュで負傷した選手）
　被告は今年６月に行われたツール・ド・フランス第１ステージの最中、テレビカメラに映ろうと、プラカードを掲げてコース上に身を乗り出した。結果、選手の一人が被告に衝突して落車し、後続の選手も次々と巻き込まれた。被告に対しては事故後、インターネット上で中傷が相次いでおり、その身元は公表されていない。
　青いセーターを着た被告は、待ち構えていた報道陣を避けながら裁判所に出頭。弁護側は非公開の裁判を求めていたが、認められなかった。
　被告は人命を危険にさらした罪と過失傷害罪に問われており、最高で１万５０００ユーロ（約２００万円）の罰金と禁錮１年が言い渡される可能性があった。だが検察は、被告が後悔の念を口にし、自分の行為が「いかに危険だったか」を認識しているとして、執行猶予付き禁錮４月を求刑した。判決は１２月９日に言い渡される。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/10/15-16:47）

The spectator behind one of the biggest pile-ups in Tour de France history appeared in court Thursday charged with injuring dozens of riders but seemed set to avoid jail after prosecutors demanded a suspended sentence.
The 31-year-old French woman, whose identity was withheld after she was targeted by a torrent of online abuse, has already told prosecutors of being ashamed at her stupidity.
Wearing a blue sweater, she fled the scrum of journalists waiting at the courthouse in Brest, western France.
But the presiding judge rejected a request by her lawyer to have the trial held behind closed doors.
The prosecution requested that she be given a four-month suspended sentence on the charges of endangering lives and causing unintentional injuries.
Under French law she could have faced a fine of up to 15,000 euros ($17,300) and a year in prison for the charges.
Prosecutor Solenn Briand acknowledged that she had recognised how dangerous her conduct had been and had expressed regret.
The trial was adjourned for a verdict on December 9.
- 'Living through hell' -
The woman, who has no criminal record, had attended the opening Tour stage on June 26 with the goal of getting a sign noticed by TV cameras.
It read Allez, Opi-Omi, the German terms for grandpa and granny, a nod to her family's German roots.
But she stepped out too far in front of the tightly packed peloton as it sped along a narrow road toward the finish at Landerneau in western France.
German rider Tony Martin was unable to avoid bumping into her and fell, forcing dozens of riders to crash while others swerved into the crowds of onlookers.
Video footage of the collision and ghastly scenes of medics tending stunned or grimacing victims sparked outrage among fans and race organisers, especially when they realised the woman had fled the scene instead of staying to help.
She remained in hiding for four days before turning herself in to police.
Several riders had to pull out of the race, including Spain's Marc Soler, who had both arms broken.
But the woman's lawyer Julien Bradmetz said his client had had a fragile personality for many years.
This fragility has now increased tenfold so today my client is living through hell, he said.
- 'Shattered in an instant' -
The trial opened the same day as organisers unveiled the route and stages for next year's race, which will start in Copenhagen and also includes routes in Switzerland and Belgium.
The Tour's organisers, the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), had originally planned to sue but later said it wanted to calm things down and would not be a plaintiff.
Christian Prudhomme, director of the Tour, adopted a conciliatory stance over the case as he announced the new route in Paris.
She did something daft, she's no terrorist. We just want people to take care when they come to the Tour and remember they are there to see the champions and not to get on television, he told reporters.
But the Switzerland-based International Association of Riders (CPA) has maintained its complaint and is seeking a symbolic one euro in damages to send a message against dangerous fan behaviour during stages.
The damage suffered by the riders is physical, moral and economic, CPA president Gianni Bugno said in a statement Wednesday.
An athlete prepares months for a grand tour and it is not acceptable that all his hard work, that of his family, his staff and his team, should be shattered in an instant by the quest for popularity, he said.