13e The day of Scala’s trial appears the opening of the ball of black dresses. A procession of judges to argue, reflect and defend the interests of 56 plaintiffs for two days.
On Tuesday, June 28, the presiding judge opened the hearing by making a crucial point to many of the victims: the Assize Court rejects the exception to the limitation put forward by attorney Dino Scala. The order relates to 10 offenses (4 rapes and 6 attempts) and 16 misdemeanors (15 assaults and 1 robbery), roughly half of the charges against Dino Scala. Enough to satisfy the civil parties whose lawyers began pleading today.
“We are in the figure, in the figure”
Undoubtedly, the large number of victims makes it difficult to plead the case. Master Katie Richard readily admits: “Obviously we are in number and form. For me, my clients are number 35 and 45”as if voluntarily insisting on the size of the case. “Even me, sometimes, when someone talks to me about a victim, I can no longer remember who he is.” However, the facts may be numerous, as always: there are spirits. Broken, rebuilt or maintained but it lives on. “They have all suffered and are still sufferingMaster Richard continues. It is not fair to forget them. » Then I spoke directly to the jury: “You must care for the victims like a mother’s love for her children: each must have her share. You must act as if they were each alone. (…) Because it is up to you, to give them back the human part that Dino Scala stole from them. »
Attract the jury’s attention
Everyone argues in their own way. Some try to remember a face and a story for the jurors. Others accuse the accused more, citing the multiple repercussions of rape and assault on their victims. Many question the jury. “There will be repetitions, repetitions. For we carry the word a great deal of pain and suffering. But you must accept its omen.”, warns Mr. Bruno Petrzak. Same approach to Mr. Emmanuel Riegler who finished the day: We have brought you to a strange worldhe told the jury. A world where nothing will protect you from the pain, suffering and misery that we have been hearing for more than two weeks now. Our profession changes us, but we lawyers chose it and you … “ Because in reality, it’s partly ordinary citizens who will judge Dino Scala in a couple of days now. Dino Scala who also defies the lawyer: “You have done so much mischief and for so long, sir. No criminal court should have dealt with so many acts of rape.” Indeed, this experience is extraordinary. This is true because of the number of victims, but not only. Because this trial also concerns alienated families, the mother of two victims who died in the last 15 days, and a victim whose lawyer knew in court that she had just been hospitalized today.
Find all the news about the Dino Scala experience in our dedicated space.