Mohamed Haouas trial: “The climate is not calm”, the prosecution confirms the postponement of the hearing for drunk driving

The player summoned this Tuesday, February 4, will have a guilty plea hearing at the end of the month. Midi Libre – MICHAEL ESDOURRUBAILH

The international rugby player, caught drunk in his car in early December in Montpellier, must be tried in the form of a “guilty plea”. The disclosure of the prosecutor's supposed requisitions led to a postponement of the case.

The saga of the trial of international rugby player Mohamed Haouas for drunk driving was enriched with a new episode this Tuesday, February 4.

As revealed by Midi Libre, the Montpellier public prosecutor did not appreciate the public disclosure, on Monday, by the player's defense, of the supposed requisitions that he was to propose to the rugby player during a CRPC hearing (appearance with prior admission of guilt), called “plead guilty”.

Procedural defect

The sentence is discussed between the parties and then approved in the event of an agreement, otherwise a “real” trial must then take place. But all of this was to be discussed this Tuesday. As a result, the prosecution decided to adjourn the case. In what form ? A new CRPC hearing on February 27.

But the deputy prosecutor asked to see Mohamed Haouas, who then came to the courthouse to be notified of the referral. “The prosecutor's representative explained to us that she could not take the case because the proposed sentence had been leaked to the press and that she felt that the climate was not calm to have a real discussion” reports Mr. Gallix, Haouas' lawyer, who is still opposed to what could have been proposed…

Another magistrate for the case

“That's three months in prison, a road safety awareness course and a six-month driving licence suspension, but it's a sentence that was not acceptable in relation to the facts alleged, he was asleep in the vehicle, admittedly drunk, but he didn't drive home. Afterwards, it's not because I say that I wouldn't accept this proposal that we couldn't discuss it” the lawyer defends himself.

However, the sentence proposed in writing by the prosecution is not necessarily the one proposed after discussion. As a result, another magistrate will handle the case at the end of February.

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