French Police Officers to Face Trial for Assaulting Black Music Producer

Four officers charged after incident involving Michel Zecler, a noted music producer, caught on video.

In a significant legal development, four police officers in France have been ordered to stand trial concerning the violent assault of a prominent Black music producer, Michel Zecler, in November 2020. The incident, which became widely known following its documentation on security camera footage, has intensified ongoing discussions around issues of police brutality and systemic racism within France.

While the investigative judges have directed the case to trial, they decided to withdraw charges alleging that two of the officers had acted with racist intent during the altercation. The judges assessed that there was insufficient evidence to affirm Zecler's claim that he was subjected to racial slurs by the officers. Despite this, the removal of the racism aspect does not alter the penalties that could be imposed on the two officers if found guilty, nor does it restrict Zecler from sharing his narrative during the trial process.

Caroline Toby, an attorney representing Zecler, expressed dismay over the judges’ decision to exclude the aggravating factor of racism. She stated that there were compelling pieces of evidence and testimonies that corroborated Zecler’s experiences during the ordeal.

Three of the involved officers are facing accusations not only of assaulting Zecler at his music studio in Paris but also of filing misleading reports regarding the incident. The police's initial documentation claimed that Zecler resisted arrest aggressively when undergoing an ID check, a portrayal sharply contradicted by the footage demonstrating their excessive use of force.

The charges against the officers primarily include forgery and aggravated assault, with potential consequences that include lengthy prison sentences of up to 15 years along with fines of approximately €225,000 (around $264,000). The officers are identified only by initials—Aurélien L., Philippe T., and Pierre P.—in compliance with local customs surrounding police identity disclosures.