The trial of Loik Le Priol, accused of murdering rugby player Frederico Martín Aramburú on March 19, 2022, on Boulevard Saint-Germain, and Romain Bouvier and Lyson Rochemir, prosecuted for attempted murder and complicity, begins this Monday before the Paris Assize Court. It is expected to last three weeks.
Here is a minute-by-minute account of the tragic events of that evening. At 4:48 a.m., Loik Le Priol, 28, parks his military jeep in front of the Le Mabillon brasserie, a popular nightlife spot in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. He is accompanied by Romain Bouvier, 31, and they sit down at a terrace table, where they are joined by Lyson Rochemir, 25, 10 minutes later.
Loik Le Priol had joined the French military at 16 and became a member of the special forces at 18. However, he was medically discharged in 2012 due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a mission in Mali. He had not received proper treatment and was still suffering from the condition in 2022.
Romain Bouvier, who holds a master’s degree in law, had started his own communication business, and Lyson Rochemir was a student in her final year of dietetics. The two men were members of the far-right group GUD (Groupe union défense), which was dissolved in 2024.
At 5:21 a.m., Frederico Martín Aramburú and Shaun Hegarty sat down at a nearby table. The conversation between the two groups started, and the tone was initially friendly. However, things took a turn when an intoxicated customer began harassing Lyson Rochemir, and Loik Le Priol asked him to leave them alone six times.
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The situation escalated when Shaun Hegarty pointed at Loik Le Priol and called him a “con.” Loik Le Priol got up, approached him, and tapped his cheek three times. A server intervened, and the situation seemed to calm down. However, at 5:59 a.m., the tragedy unfolded. Frederico Martín Aramburú got up to join Shaun Hegarty, who was smoking a cigarette on the sidewalk, and as he passed behind Loik Le Priol, he violently pulled on his hood and knocked him to the ground.
Loik Le Priol got up, furious, and charged at Aramburú. The two men started fighting on the street, and Romain Bouvier tried to intervene but was punched by Shaun Hegarty. The servers managed to separate the belligerents, but not before things had gotten out of hand.
Lyson Rochemir got into the jeep and drove away, intending to leave the scene, but she returned to pick up Loik Le Priol. Meanwhile, the rugby players had left the brasserie and were walking down Boulevard Saint-Germain. Loik Le Priol, still furious, decided to follow them, and Romain Bouvier joined him in the jeep.
At 6:09 a.m., the fatal shooting occurred. Loik Le Priol and Frederico Martín Aramburú got into a fight, and Loik Le Priol pulled out a gun and shot Aramburú. Four of the bullets hit Aramburú, and he died shortly after.
Loik Le Priol fled the scene, and Lyson Rochemir drove him away. They did not discuss what had happened, but Loik Le Priol gave her instructions to retrieve their vehicles and call his lawyer.
Romain Bouvier, who had also been involved in the altercation, went into hiding and eventually turned himself in on March 23.
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The trial of Loik Le Priol, Romain Bouvier, and Lyson Rochemir began on Monday, with the prosecution arguing that the defendants had acted with premeditation. The defense, however, claims that the events were a tragic accident and that the defendants had acted in self-defense.
The trial is expected to last three weeks, and the defendants face life imprisonment if convicted. The case has sparked controversy, with some arguing that the defendants’ far-right ideology played a role in the events. However, the defense maintains that the case is simply a tragic altercation that got out of hand.
The next three weeks will be significant in determining the fate of the defendants and uncovering the truth behind this tragic event. The prosecution and defense will present their arguments, and the court will decide who is responsible for the death of Frederico Martín Aramburú.
Journalists on the scene report that the trial has drawn significant attention, with many waiting to see how the case will unfold. As the trial progresses, it will be important to follow the developments and see how the court rules on the case.
The Paris Court will continue to hear the case, and the outcome is still uncertain. The defendants’ fate hangs in the balance, and the court’s decision will have significant implications for them and their families.
