A trial began in Paris on Monday for two far‑right activists accused of murdering former Argentina rugby international Federico Martín Aramburú. The 42‑year‑old athlete was shot and killed on March 19, 2022, after a late‑night altercation in the centre of the French capital.
At the time of the incident, Federico Martín Aramburú was at a brasserie with former rugby player Shaun Hegarty. Investigators say a dispute erupted with Loïk Le Priol and Romain Bouvier, which continued onto the street after the rugby players left the venue. Prosecutors allege the suspects later caught up with the men in a car and opened fire, inflicting fatal wounds on Aramburú.
Circumstances of the murder
Loïk Le Priol, 32, a former commando and member of the disbanded far‑right student group GUD, is charged with murder. Romain Bouvier, 35, faces a charge of attempted murder. Both men face life imprisonment, and the trial is expected to last several weeks.
Investigators noted that the conflict began after Shaun Hegarty commented on how Loïk Le Priol was speaking to another patron. Le Priol then touched Hegarty’s head. As Aramburú and Hegarty were leaving, Aramburú grabbed Le Priol by the hood and knocked him to the ground, leading to a fight in which Le Priol broke several teeth.
Le Priol and Bouvier later pursued the two men in a car belonging to Le Priol’s then‑girlfriend. According to the prosecution’s version, Bouvier fired at Aramburú, after which Le Priol approached on foot and fired additional shots that killed the Argentine. The investigation identifies Le Priol as the shooter of the fatal rounds.
Background and context
After the murder, Le Priol was arrested at the border between Hungary and Ukraine. Investigators say he told police he was heading to Ukraine to take part in combat operations following Russia’s full‑scale invasion.
At the time of the killing, both men were already under investigation for a 2015 assault on a former GUD official. In 2022 they were convicted for that attack: Le Priol received a two‑year sentence and Bouvier three years.
Federico Martín Aramburú, a native of La Plata, earned 22 caps for Argentina between 2004 and 2009. He played for French clubs Perpignan, Biarritz and Dax, as well as the Scottish side Glasgow Warriors. After retiring, he settled in Biarritz, France, and remained closely involved in the rugby community. His death shocked the city and drew attention to the defendants’ links to the French far‑right.
Source: RFI
