Eric Comyn was conducting a checkpoint with his colleagues at Mougins in August 2024 when a driver crashed into them head-on, killing him instantly. The driver is being charged with “murder” in front of the court of assizes of Alpes-Maritimes.
The driver suspected of causing the death of gendarme Eric Comyn in August 2024 in Mougins (Alpes-Maritimes) is charged with “murder of a person in authority” and “failure to comply” in front of the court of assizes of Alpes-Maritimes, according to BFM sources, confirming information from Europe 1. However, the date of the trial has not yet been confirmed.
This decision by the investigating judges is in line with the expectations of the victim’s relatives. “They welcome this decision with satisfaction. The next step is to prepare for the trial,” said lawyer Pauline Ragot, representing the family members of Eric Comyn and some of his colleagues.
On August 26, 2024, the gendarme and his colleagues were conducting a checkpoint on the A8 highway in Mougins when a reckless driver veered onto the right lane of the exit ramp and crashed into Eric Comyn, killing him instantly. The suspect then fled but was arrested a few hours later and tested positive for alcohol.
Contacted for comment, defense lawyer Marie Seguin did not wish to comment on this decision. She simply stated that she has appealed the charge.
###Debate around the intention to cause death During the proceedings, the defense lawyer wanted her client to be charged with “vehicular homicide,” which carries a potential 7-year prison sentence and does not imply intent to kill. In custody, the man claimed he did not see the gendarme on the road, panicked after hitting him, and fled. The charge of vehicular homicide was ultimately replaced with “murder,” which could lead to life imprisonment for the accused.
This decision by the investigating judges is praised by Eric Comyn’s family lawyer. “Killing a gendarme is one of the most serious criminal acts in our legal system. It should not be judged under a different charge,” stated lawyer Pauline Ragot, describing the suspect as a “recidivist with a criminal record, whose dangerousness is evident from the evidence in the case.” She added, “His murderous intent is unquestionable.”
In their indictment, the investigating judges also noted that Eric Comyn was clearly visible to the suspect before the collision, as he was using a lit lamp and wearing a reflective vest. Additionally, according to investigators, witness testimonies and expert analyses indicate that the suspect aimed at the gendarme and did not attempt to swerve away as he ran over him.
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