Rennes: A 71-year-old man stabbed “because of his homosexuality” and left lying – 20 Minutes

It was a motorist who saw him lying on the edge of a roundabout in Betton, north of Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine). It was around 5:15 a.m. this Saturday when this witness alerted the firefighters and the gendarmes to help him. Lying on the edge of the Douze Aromes roundabout, a 71-year-old man lay, injured by several stab wounds. Transported in a state of absolute emergency, the victim will survive. The medical examination carried out by the doctors will reveal “six wounds compatible with the action of a knife and fractures of the facial bone”, according to the Rennes prosecutor’s office, confirming information from Ouest-France. “The victim benefits from 30 days of ITT”, adds the public prosecutor Philippe Astruc. Entrusted to the research brigade of Rennes, the investigation quickly led to the arrest of two young men from Guyana. One is 17 years old and lives in Le Mans (Sarthe). His friend is just of age and lives in Rennes. He is “little known to the judicial institution”. The two young suspects were found in the Mercedes vehicle that they had stolen from the victim. Beyond the very serious facts, it is the reasons for the attack that challenge the investigators. Main suspect, the young adult would have explained his act “because of the supposed homosexuality of the victim”, specifies the parquet floor. Exchanges of messages and an appointmentOn the night of July 14 to 15, the victim would have crossed the road of his alleged attacker in the streets of Rennes. Exchanges of messages took place until an appointment was organized for July 16. The young major admitted having stabbed the car but also outside. A criminal judicial investigation of the counts of attempted murder due to the sexual orientation of the victim and robbery with a weapon has been opened. His placement in pre-trial detention was requested by the prosecutor. The penalty incurred is life imprisonment. As for the minor, he is not concerned by the criminal acts. The prosecution of Le Mans will have to decide whether or not to initiate proceedings for concealment.