The defence team representing the ex-policeman, who killed a 51-year-old man in Bonnevoie in April 2018, lodged an appeal after he was sentenced in November 2022 to five years’ imprisonment, three of which were suspended, and ordered to pay compensation of €21,000 to the victim’s widow. Last May, the widow shared her ordeal in an interview with our colleagues from RTL.lu.
The incident unfolded on 11 April 2018, in close proximity to the Bonnevoie church when the driver evaded a police checkpoint and fled the scene. As the vehicle approached and the driver continued to resist compliance, a 22-year-old police officer discharged several shots, resulting in the driver’s death.
During the initial trial, the defendant’s lawyer, Philippe Penning, pleaded self-defence, while the prosecution pressed for a 30-year prison term for manslaughter. The prosecution contended that the ex-policeman had practically been waiting for an opportunity to use his firearm.
Throughout the proceedings, several former colleagues testified in court that the ex-policeman “thought he was in Law & Order” and “behaved like a child who won a gun at a fair.”
Read more:
2018 Bonnevoie shooting: ‘I cannot get closure’, says widow of man shot dead by police officerBonnevoie shooting: Police reconstruct shooting incident as part of ongoing homicide trial
Police Dysfunction: “He thought he was in Law & Order”
Fatal police shooting in 2018: Accused police officer tells court he fired weapon in self-defence
