News
2006-09-27
French court
drops high-profile case of antigay attack
A court in
northern France has thrown out a case involving an attack on
a gay man that drew nationwide attention and helped
A court in
northern France has thrown out a case involving an attack on
a gay man that drew nationwide attention and helped
lead to a law penalizing homophobic statements,
judicial officials said Tuesday. Attackers allegedly
doused Sebastien Nouchet with gasoline in his garden
and set him ablaze in the January 2004 incident. He was
hospitalized for several weeks with severe burns. He
told investigators that the aggressors used antigay
epithets during the attack.
After more than 2-1/2 years of investigation and
court proceedings, the judge in Bethune dropped the
case on Monday, court officials said. No reason for
the decision was given, though the defense has long cited
the lack of witnesses or solid evidence in the case.
A suspect was detained in May 2004 and placed
under investigation, but he was later released for
lack of evidence. Nouchet's lawyer could not
immediately be reached for comment.
The attack drew national attention and was seen
as a key factor leading to measures that make
homophobic statements punishable by fines. The
measures were part of a December 2004 law that created a
government agency called the High Authority for the
Battle Against Discrimination and for Equality, or
HALDE. (AP)
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