The defendant stood accused of having hit another police officer so hard the victim was still feeling consequences of the attack. The brawl occurred in November 2016 in a disco in Luxembourg City.
The state prosecutor argued that the police officer must receive a sentence for his actions in order to prove to society that his actions make him accountable to the law.
In summarising the events preceding Wednesday's trial, the prosecutor highlighted that the two police officers had run into each other by coincidence on the eventful day nearly three years ago. The defendant had been in denial that his relationship with his ex-girlfriend had broken down and that she had begun dating the other police officer. For that reason, the prosecutor highlighted, the defendant had immediately reacted and confronted the victim, by hitting him from behind and then in the face.
The victim had told the court that the punches had caused permanent damage relating to a seemingly incurable illness. The defendant's lawyer highlighted that a court doctor suggested there were no aftereffects of the incident, thus dismissing the charge of aggravating circumstances.
Whilst the lawyer conceded the video footage of the attack did not do his client any favours, his client had lost control because of his heartbreak. Nevertheless, the lawyer argued that the requested three and a half years prison sentence, partially suspended, was disproportionate. The prosecutor also recommended a fine.
The victim's lawyer described the entire incident as an 'exceptional affair' of police officer against police officer in a show of significant violence. His client, who was working through the events, had been signed off work for two years and nine months, which is inevitably affecting his career.
The verdict is due on 10 October.
