A younger man who was within the automotive with the 17-year-old shot and killed by a police officer in France, sparking unrest throughout the nation, has shared his story to “set up the reality”.
The killing of Nahel Merzouk ignited long-simmering tensions between police and younger folks in France’s housing tasks, who wrestle with poverty and unemployment.
He was shot throughout rush hour on Tuesday morning whereas driving a automotive in Nanterre, a small city on the outskirts of Paris.
A passenger within the automotive has launched a video on social media saying he desires to “set up the reality … as a result of there are lots of lies on social media”.
Saying he desires to “inform you the story from A to Z,” the younger man explains they borrowed the Mercedes and determined to go for a drive round Nanterre, including: “We weren’t underneath the affect of any alcohol or medication.”
They have been driving within the bus lane after they seen police motorbikes following them with flashing lights and stopped the automotive.
He says an officer approached the window of the automotive and informed Nahel to decrease it earlier than saying: “Minimize the engine or I am going to shoot you.”
The younger man claims the officer then struck Nahel with the butt of his gun, then the second officer arrived and in addition hit Nahel with the butt of his weapon.
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‘Do not transfer or I am going to put a bullet in your head’
He says the primary officer then put a gun to Nahel’s head and mentioned: “Do not transfer or I am going to put a bullet in your head.”
The younger man alleges the second officer mentioned: “Shoot him.”
He says the primary officer then caught Nahel once more with the butt of the gun, inflicting him to launch his foot from the brake pedal and making the automotive transfer ahead.
He says the second officer then fired his weapon, so Nahel put his foot on the accelerator.
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‘I am shocked at what occurred in entrance of me’
“I noticed him in ache, he trembled,” he says. “We hit a barrier.
“I used to be afraid. I bought out of the automobile. And I ran away. I assumed they could shoot me. So I ran.”
He provides: “I am shocked at what occurred in entrance of me. To my good friend.”
Officer’s use of weapon not legally justified, prosecutor says
The officer who shot and killed Nahel has asked his family for forgiveness.
Nanterre public prosecutor Pascal Prache mentioned officers tried to tug {the teenager} over as a result of he regarded so younger and was driving a Mercedes with Polish licence plates in a bus lane.
He allegedly drove by way of a pink gentle to keep away from being stopped after which bought caught in site visitors.
The officer mentioned he feared he and his colleague or another person might be hit by the automotive as Nahel tried to flee, in response to the prosecutor.
Mr Prache mentioned his preliminary investigation had led him to conclude the officer’s use of his weapon was not legally justified.
The officer has been put underneath formal investigation over voluntary murder and is being held in jail in preventive detention. Beneath the French authorized system, being positioned underneath formal investigation is akin to being charged within the UK.