French policemen go on trial over 2020 beating of Black music producer

Nearly six years later, Michel Zekler says he's still haunted by the assault when police officers beat him. The effects were like a landslide. A part of me was swept away. On the 21st of November 2020, police officers stopped Zekler for not wearing a COVID mask and on suspicion of marijuana use. Pushing him into his office, they began to violently beat him, levying some 30 blows to the face and torso. Officers then violently arrested the music producer. Initially, officers said it was Zeckler who had assaulted them. But then video footage contradicted the police's version, showing nearly five minutes of police brutality. Without these CCTV images, it would be Mr. Zeckler who would be accused in court. And without these images, he would have been convicted. Evidently, Mr. Zecler would have been condemned. The video surveillance images sent shockwaves across the country. At the time, the French president tweeted that the assault was unacceptable and shameful, that France should never let hatred or racism prosper. Zeckler and four witnesses say that the officers used racist insults during the assault. Three officers faced charges of forgery of the initial police report and intentional violence committed as a group. They risk 15 years in jail. A fourth officer will also go before a judge. The criminal case, which is expected to last two weeks, is a rarity in France. Police brutality charges are often dealt with internally, if at all.