More than four years after former Argentina international rugby player Federico Martín Aramburu was shot dead in Paris, the trial of four defendants accused in connection with his killing has opened in the French capital, bringing renewed attention to a case that shocked Argentina’s rugby community.
Aramburu, 42, was killed in the early hours of March 19, 2022, after an argument at the Mabillon brasserie in Paris’s Latin Quarter escalated into violence. He had been in the city with fellow former rugby player Shaun Hegarty when they became involved in a confrontation with Loïk Le Priol and Romain Bouvier.
Le Priol, 32, is facing a murder charge, while Bouvier, 35, is accused of attempted murder. Le Priol is alleged to have fired the shots that killed Aramburu, while investigators say Bouvier also fired at him during the incident. Both men had links to the now-dissolved far-right group GUD and were already facing legal consequences for a separate aggravated assault case.
According to the investigation, the confrontation did not end when the two groups left the brasserie. Prosecutors allege that Bouvier and Le Priol went after Aramburu and Hegarty, with Le Priol’s then-girlfriend, Lyson Rochemir, driving the vehicle. Surveillance footage formed an important part of the investigation into what happened afterward.
Bouvier is accused of shooting at Aramburu before Le Priol arrived and opened fire. Aramburu died at the scene. The defendants have admitted firing weapons but deny that they intended to kill him, making the question of intent a central issue likely to be examined during the proceedings.
Rochemir, 29, is also standing trial over her alleged role in the events, while a fourth defendant, Antony Sorrentino, is accused of helping Bouvier evade arrest or concealing evidence after the shooting. The charges carry potentially severe prison sentences, with the principal defendants facing the possibility of life imprisonment if convicted.
Aramburu was a respected figure in Argentine rugby. He earned 22 international caps between 2004 and 2009 and played professionally for several French clubs, including Biarritz, Perpignan and Dax, as well as Glasgow Warriors in Scotland. He also represented Argentina at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, where the team finished third.
His death has continued to resonate in Argentina. Ahead of a recent match against Australia, Argentina’s players wore shirts carrying the words “Justice for Fede” in his memory, while the Argentine Rugby Union has expressed support for the call for justice. His family and friends have also campaigned for the circumstances surrounding his death to remain firmly in public attention during the trial.
The trial is scheduled to continue until September 25, when a verdict is expected. Until then, the allegations against the defendants remain matters for the court to determine, while the prosecution will have to establish the respective criminal responsibility of each accused person.
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