French police cleared in teen deaths that sparked riots

Source: Associated Press

French police cleared in teen deaths that sparked riots
By PHILIPPE SOTTO and JAMEY KEATEN, Associated Press | May 18, 2015 | Updated: May 18, 2015 1:35pm

RENNES, France (AP) — A French court on Monday acquitted two police officers accused of contributing to the deaths of two minority teenagers in a blighted Paris suburb a decade ago — a long-awaited verdict that crushed the boys' families and raised fears of possible violence like that seen recently in the U.S.

The deaths of 15-year-old Bouna Traore and 17-year-old Zyed Benna prompted weeks of riots across France in 2005, exposing anger and resentment in neglected, crime-ridden suburban housing projects.

The two boys, chased by police, entered a power substation in the Paris suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois to hide and were electrocuted. A third boy survived the powerful 20,000-volt electric shock with severe burns.

On Monday, the court in the western city of Rennes ruled that officers Sebastien Gaillemin and Stephanie Klein were not responsible. Neither had a "clear awareness of grave and imminent danger" as required by French law, said Judge Nicolas Leger.




Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Verdict-due-on-French-police-in-case-that-sparked-6269829.php