Death of Cédric Chouviat: Three Police Officers Sent to Trial for Manslaughter, a Significant Decision for the Family

Four years after the death of Cédric Chouviat, a 42-year-old delivery driver who died of asphyxiation following a tense arrest in Paris on January 3, 2020, investigative judges have ordered the trial of three police officers for manslaughter. This decision, revealed by Mediapart and confirmed by the Paris prosecutor’s office, marks a crucial step for the victim’s family.

During his arrest, Cédric Chouviat was pinned to the ground while wearing his motorcycle helmet, repeatedly saying “I can’t breathe” nine times in thirteen seconds before losing consciousness. Hospitalized in critical condition, he passed away two days later. This case, emblematic of police violence, tragically echoes the death of George Floyd, who died under similar circumstances in May 2020 in the United States.

Speaking on BFMTV, Doria Chouviat, the victim’s widow, expressed her outrage, stating that her husband had been subjected to “intentional and deliberate violence.” She denounced an “abusive and arbitrary control” and highlighted “disturbing truths” revealed during the investigation.

The family’s lawyer, Arié Alimi, welcomed this judicial decision on France 3 while criticizing the charge of manslaughter. He argued that the facts should be classified as “intentional violence.” This view is shared by the family’s other lawyers, William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth, who lament that this qualification “obscures the intentional nature of the acts.”

In their ruling, the judges stated that the officers exhibited behavior that was “inappropriate, negligent, and reckless.” However, two of the three officers have appealed the decision, leaving the Paris Court of Appeal to determine the final charges and the competent court. A fourth police officer, placed under the more favorable status of assisted witness, will not face trial.

For Cédric Chouviat’s family, this decision represents a significant step in their pursuit of justice. A white march in his memory was held on January 3, 2021, underlining the impact of this tragedy on public debate surrounding police violence in France.