Paris trial opens over killing of Argentine rugby star Aramburu

Two far-right activists, Loik Le Priol and Romain Bouvier, are to go on trial in Paris on Monday over the 2022 killing of Argentine rugby international Federico Aramburu after a late-night argument turned violent.

Aramburu, 42, was with another player, Shaun Hegarty, sitting at a brasserie in Paris in the early hours of March 19, 2022, when they argued with Le Priol and Bouvier.

After the sportsmen left, the two accused are suspected of having fired several shots at Aramburu, who died of his wounds.

Le Priol, 32, and Bouvier, 35, have been charged with murder and attempted murder, respectively, in a trial set to last several weeks, and risk up to life in jail if they are found guilty.

The trial has prompted calls for justice in Aramburu’s native Argentina, where he played for the national team, with members of the Pumas wearing black T-shirts bearing the words “Justice for Fede” ahead of a match on Saturday.

Le Priol, a former commando and member of a now-dissolved ultra-right movement, GUD, is suspected of having fired the shots that killed the rugby player.

He was arrested several days later at the Hungary-Ukraine border, where he told police he was “going to Ukraine to fight” after Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Both defendants have denied intending to kill Aramburu.

A verdict is expected on September 25.

– ‘Violence, hatred’-

Former friends and teammates have remembered Aramburu as “always smiling” and a “true friend,” while his loved ones have urged against any attempt to minimise his death.

A campaign backed by his family, friends and the Argentine rugby community aims to ensure “society remembers what is about to be tried: the murder of a 42-year-old man, father of three children, whose life was snatched away.”

The killing was “marked by violence, hatred and extremist intolerance,” they said.

The Argentine Rugby Union also issued a statement expressing “its support for the call for justice” for Aramburu.

– ‘I’m going to kill him’ –

Aramburu had been living in the southwestern French town of Biarritz after retiring. He played club rugby for Perpignan, Biarritz and Dax in France, as well as for the Glasgow Warriors.

He earned 22 caps for Argentina from 2004 to 2009.

Le Priol and Bouvier were, at the time of the killing, already under investigation over the 2015 beating of a former GUD official. A court in 2022 sentenced them to two and three years in jail over the incident.

According to the investigation, tensions soared at the restaurant after Aramburu’s friend, Hegarty, criticised Le Priol for the way he snapped at another customer. Le Priol tapped him on the head.

As the rugby players left, Aramburu grabbed Le Priol by the hood, slamming him to the ground. The ensuing exchange of blows left Le Priol with a few broken teeth, as the rugby players fled the scene.

Witnesses reported Le Priol allegedly said, “I’m going to kill him” and “We’ll find them.”

After catching up with them in the vehicle of Le Priol’s then-girlfriend, Bouvier shot at Aramburu before escaping. Le Priol then turned up on foot, firing again at the Argentine and killing him.

AFP