Trial opens in Paris over murder of Argentina rugby star Federico Aramburu

What the report says

A trial opened in Paris over the killing of former Argentina rugby international Federico Aramburu, who was shot dead in the French capital in March 2022 after an altercation near Boulevard Saint-Germain. According to the report from Al Jazeera, two former members of a violent far-right group are facing murder and attempted murder charges, along with a third defendant accused of helping one of them avoid arrest. The case is being heard more than four years after the attack.

The article says prosecutors allege that Loik Le Priol fired the fatal shots, while Romain Bouvier also discharged a weapon during the confrontation. Le Priol’s then girlfriend, Lyson Rochemir, is also on trial on an attempted murder charge. A separate defendant, Antony Sorrentino, is accused of assisting Bouvier after the shooting. The trial is scheduled to run until Sept. 25, with all three main defendants facing possible life sentences.

Al Jazeera reports that Aramburu, 42, had been drinking with former player Shaun Hegarty when tensions flared between their group and the defendants’ group at a café terrace. The dispute reportedly escalated into a fight before continuing outside, where the shooting occurred. The defendants fled afterward, and arrests were made in Paris, the Sarthe region and Hungary. The report identifies Aramburu as a former star for Argentina and French clubs including Biarritz and Perpignan.

The case has drawn attention in Argentina, where rugby supporters and Aramburu’s family are calling for justice and for the killing not to be minimized. His death has been described by those close to him as a violent act tied to hatred and extremism, highlighting the broader concern over political violence and fan grief surrounding a well-known sports figure.