Tried for climbing a tree

 

Did local police use undue violence against a Tree Dweller in Montpellier and then prosecute him instead? We have to  ask ourselves in the case of Kevin, 27.

May last year, a group of young people (related to the movement Les Indignés) settled in a tree on a platform they had build on the Esplanade, downtown Montpellier. Their action was non-violent and most people who met talked to them considered them as nice and friendly.

But the City Hall didn't consider their actions as a peaceful social experiment and called them ‘troublemakers’. So the municipal police were ordered to prevent anybody from climbing up the tree. Nevertheless, on May 13 one of the tree dwellers, Kevin Porée, 27, decided to return to the tree. When he started to climb up a policeman grasped one of his legs. According to the policeman Kevin kicked him back. Another policeman says he came to help his colleague and used his truncheon or ‘tonga’ in self-defense. According to Kevin the police used violence against him and then accused him of being violent. Both sides produced medical certificates notifying bruises. See the following link for (Montpellier Journal) for an account of the event:  http://www.montpellier-journal.fr/2013/06/policiers-frappeurs-la-cour-dappel-ordonne-un-complement-denquete.html

The police sued Kevin for violence and last September he was condemned to a suspended sentence and 300€ penalty. Unhappy with what he considers as an unfair ruling Kevin appealed and decided to produce a video. The appeal trial took place on Tuesday June11, during which it was decided by the court to obtain more information about the video before taking it into account. The next hearing will take place on December 10, 14h at the Cour d'appel in Montpellier.

 

Photo captions

Left: Long haired bare feet Kevin a short time before going to the Court
Far Left: Inside the tribunal after the hearing
Top: T the tree dwellers in Montpellier

 

Reporting by: Patrice Victor