Two defendants could face up to five years in prison after spate of incidents in country’s rural south-west

Two defendants could face up to five years in prison after spate of incidents in country’s rural south-west

Two men accused of driving up to cyclists in rural south-west France and pushing them into ditches for fun have gone on trial in Toulouse for organised violence and could face up to five years in prison.

The two men, aged 20 and 22, were arrested last year after a spate of cyclists being pushed off their bikes on quiet country roads. One victim told the newspaper La Dépêche: “It was April … I’d gone out on my bike for the afternoon. When I got to a little country road … I felt a car was following me silently. It was driving very slowly behind me when it could easily have overtaken me. Then after a few minutes it drove up beside me. The car’s passenger suddenly pushed me down.”

Another man described being on a weekend cycle ride with two friends when a car pulled up beside him and the passenger allegedly reached out a hand and pushed him into a ditch.

At least 12 cyclists were hit over a period of several months, some sustaining injuries including a wrist fracture and a collar-bone fracture.

  • LarmyOfLone@lemm.eeEnglish
    471·
    9 months ago

    Collar-bone fracture is I believe incredibly painful and long lasting injury. Glad those fuckers face justice.

    • Patapon Enjoyer@lemmy.worldEnglish
      82·
      9 months ago

      I broke my cousin’s when we were kids, coincidentally on a bicycle accident, and it took like six months to heal back.

      I had to get my head stiched up, so I think we’re even.

    • rckclmbr@lemm.eeEnglish
      5·
      9 months ago

      Broke mine last year, took a surgery and 6 months of physical therapy to get close to normal. I also couldn’t sleep for a month, every little movement would hurt. Broke it by wrecking on my bike