A man in his 40s has been handed a two-year suspended sentence and a temporary driving ban after being found guilty of manslaughter in connection with a tragic road accident that killed Christophe David, a senior police officer from Monaco, in Èze in 2021. The driver, who was a healthcare worker at the time of the crash, was unlicensed and driving 20km/h over the speed limit when the fatal accident occurred.
In September 2021, 44-year-old Constable Christophe David, Head of the Police Commissioner’s Secretariat in Monaco, was fatally struck in a collision that occurred in the town of Èze while riding his scooter to work.
The event shook the community, leading the Monaco Government to release a touching statement at the time that read: “The tragic loss of the Constable in a road accident on the way to work has once again plunged the Police Department and the entire Monegasque community into deep sadness.”
The vehicle that hit the constable was driven by a 46-year-old healthcare worker who had been banned from driving due to a prior speeding offence. During the hearing at Nice’s Criminal Court on 25th February, the defendant accepted blame for the crash.
“The only cause of the accident was my lack of control of the vehicle coming out of a bend,” he told the court, as reported by Monaco Matin, appearing visibly emotional and apologetic towards the victim’s loved ones.
Expert analysis revealed the man had been travelling at approximately 65km/h, far exceeding the standard speed for the type of vehicle he was driving, which is typically capped at 45km/h.
Representing Christophe David’s partner, who had become engaged to the officer shortly before his death, lawyer Marie Seguin spoke of the recklessness involved and the deep emotional devastation left in the wake of the victim’s death.
As reported by Monaco Matin, defence attorney Laure Teresi sought to reduce her client’s liability by pointing to possible mechanical flaws in the unlicensed vehicle. The prosecution, meanwhile, called for the revocation of the driver’s licence and his enrolment in a road safety course.
Ultimately, the court imposed a fully suspended prison sentence of two years. The defendant’s licence was cancelled, and he is prohibited from applying for a new one for six months.
Following the verdict on 4th April, a moment of emotional reconciliation took place outside the courthouse, where the victim’s sister and the convicted man exchanged words in a show of grief on both sides.
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Photo of Constable Christophe David via Monaco Communications Department