The trial of two far-right activists suspected of killing former international Argentine rugby player Federico Martín Aramburu will be held in September 2026 before the Paris Criminal Court.
The news was confirmed by sources close to the case cited by the AFP news agency, confirming information previously published by the Ici Pays Basque newspaper.
From September 7 to 25, 2026, Loïk le Priol, former activist of far right student organisation Groupe Union Défense (GUD) and former member of the Special French Navy Operations Command, will be tried for murder, whereas Romain Bouvier will be tried for attempted murder.
Lyson R., partner of Loïk Le Priol accused particularly of having driven Romain Bouvier in her Jeep to the victim, must answer for complicity in attempted murder.
Anthony R. will be tried for harbouring a fugitive and removing an object to hinder the investigation.
On the morning of March 19, 2022, Federico Martín Aramburu – a 42-year-old ex-rugby legend who was capped 22 times for the Pumas –met up with one of his friends, Shaun Hegarty, another rugby player, at a bar on Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris. They were scheduled to attend the France-England match of the Six Nations Tournament at Stade de France that day.
There was an altercation on a terrace with Loïk Le Priol and Romain Bouvier. Both athletes left the establishment on foot.
Later, they were both approached by the two far right activists, who shot the former Argentine player in two successive crime scenes, and injured him fatally, before fleeing.
After a series of turns in the investigation, the court considered there was no “common criminal purpose” among all the accused.
That is why only Loïk Le Priol, who shot Aramburu on the back, which fatally injured him, must answer for murder, that is, premeditated homicide, whereas Romain Bouvier, who injured him on his thigh and side, is only answerable for attempted murder.
The death of Aramburu, who since retiring from sports had been living in Biarritz, caused quite a commotion in the rugby world.
– TIMES/AFP
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