Two far-right activists to stand trial in Paris over rugby player Aramburu’s death
In Paris, France, the trial of two far-right activists in the case concerning the death of former Argentina national rugby player Federico Martin Aramburu in 2022 is due to begin on Monday. Loïk Le Priol is accused of murder, while Romain Bouvier is charged with attempted murder. If convicted, they could face life imprisonment, France 24 English reports.
Dispute at a brasserie
Aramburu was 42 years old. On the morning of March 19, 2022, he was at a Paris brasserie with another rugby player, where he had an altercation with Le Priol and Bouvier.
According to the investigation, the conflict escalated after Aramburu’s friend, rugby player Shaun Hegarty, criticized Le Priol for speaking harshly to another customer. Le Priol tapped Hegarty on the head. As the rugby players were leaving the establishment, Aramburu grabbed Le Priol by the hood and threw him to the ground. During the scuffle, several of Le Priol’s teeth were broken.
Investigators’ version
Investigators believe that Bouvier and Le Priol then pursued the athletes in the car of Le Priol’s girlfriend at the time. According to the investigation, Bouvier shot Aramburu and then fled. Le Priol later arrived on foot and opened fire on the Argentine again, after which he died from his injuries.
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Le Priol, a former commando and member of the disbanded far-right GUD movement, may have been the one who fired the fatal shots, according to France 24. Several days after Aramburu’s death, he was detained at the Hungarian-Ukrainian border. He told police that he was heading to fight in Ukraine after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
At the time of Aramburu’s death, both defendants were also implicated in an investigation into the 2015 beating of a former GUD representative. In 2022, a court sentenced them to two and three years in prison, respectively.
After ending his career, Aramburu lived in the French city of Biarritz. He played for Perpignan, Biarritz, Dax and Glasgow Warriors, and made 22 appearances for Argentina’s national team between 2004 and 2009.
