World · Europe · 7 hrs ago
Three French officers face trial over beating of Michel Zecler
Three French police officers are on trial in Paris over the beating of music producer Michel Zecler in 2020.
Officers stopped Zecler outside his studio during the Covid pandemic, saying he was not wearing a required mask and suspecting him of cannabis use.
Security camera footage showed the officers beating him inside the studio and contradicted their claim that he had hit them.
Zecler suffered about 30 punches and baton blows, and an arm injury kept him from working for 45 days.
The officers are also accused of falsifying an official report to cover up what happened; they face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
The case is unusual because most allegations of police brutality in France are handled internally, and guilty verdicts are rare.
The Paris trial is scheduled to last two weeks, and Zecler says he wants the officers held accountable.
Three French police officers are standing trial in Paris over the 2020 beating of music producer Michel Zecler.
The assault took place in the entrance to Zecler’s Paris studio and was recorded by security cameras.
The officers are accused of group violence and falsifying official records to cover up their actions.
The case drew national attention to police violence and racism in France.
The trial began on November 9, 2026, and is scheduled to last two weeks.
- Who
- Music producer Michel Zecler and three police officers: Aurélien L., Pierre P. and Philippe T.
- What
- The officers are on trial over Zecler’s beating and the alleged falsification of official records.
- When
- The assault took place on November 21, 2020. The trial began on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- Paris, at Zecler’s recording studio in the 17th arrondissement.
- Why
- The officers say they stopped Zecler because he was not wearing a mandatory face mask. They also suspected him of cannabis use, according to the Guardian.
Campaigners and rights groups
French authorities and law enforcement unions
Police violence and racism
Campaigners and rights groups
They say the case is evidence of systemic police violence and racism.
French authorities and law enforcement unions
They say police violence is limited to isolated cases.
Police stopped Zecler outside his Paris studio and beat him in an assault recorded by security cameras.
The French media website Loopsider released footage that contradicted the officers’ account of events.
The trial of the three officers began in Paris; proceedings are scheduled to last two weeks.
- Defendant count
- Three police officers
- Complainant
- Michel Zecler, a music producer
- Assault date
- November 21, 2020
- Trial location
- Paris
- Trial start
- November 9, 2026
- Alleged offences
- Group violence and falsifying official records
3 sources
What people are saying
I expect this trial to hold the police officers accountable
If there hadn’t been cameras … their reports would have been enough to send me to prison
The footage we all saw of the assault on Michel Zecler assault is unacceptable. It shames us