Killing of Clément Méric

On 5 June 2013, a fight between far-left[1][2] and far-right activists in Paris resulted in the death of 18-year-old left-winger Clément Méric (French pronunciation: [klemɑ̃ meʁik]).

[5] The lengthy judicial process centred around contentious points: Méric's own responsibility in the violence,[6][1] and whether or not the accused had brass knuckles, an illegal weapon regardless of context.

The village's mayor, André Rigaud, described his parents as normal people, but in 2010 opened a police investigation into Morillo and his neo-Nazi gang.

[13] A sale of Ben Sherman and Fred Perry apparel – popular with both extreme groups – was taking place on the Rue de Caumartin in the 9th arrondissement of Paris.

[11] Later in June 2013, security footage from Paris's RATP Group public transit agency showed Méric hitting Morillo in the back.

[18] A contentious issue in the trial was whether Morillo was armed with brass knuckles, as the accused's own text messages and witness statements supported that he was, while the autopsy was inconclusive.

[7] Brass knuckles are legally sold to adults in France, but their use in this case would prove that Morillo and supplier Dufour had prepared to commit violence.

[19] In September 2018, Morillo was found guilty of manslaughter and Dufour of supplying brass knuckles, while a third man was acquitted of violence to other people.