The Angers Criminal Court sentenced three defendants to suspended sentences ranging between 18 months and three years for their role in the 2016 collapse of a balcony that killed four people. The court also acquitted Frederic Rolland (66), who was a building architect.
The public prosecutor of Angers requested that Frederic Rolland be sentenced to the maximum punishment, which included four years imprisonment and two firms. During the reading of judgment, the president of court stated that the breaches of architect's professional obligations were not substantiated by certain elements.
Eric Morand (53), the works manager, was sentenced to three years imprisonment, with 18 months suspended. He was later released. The bar was informed by Morand that the construction method for the balconies had been altered to meet the site's deadlines. Patrick Bonnel (73), the manager of the structural company was sentenced to a three year suspended prison sentence with a fine of almost 25,000 euros. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment by the prosecution, with one year suspended.
Jean-Marcel Moreau (site manager), 63, was sentenced to a suspended sentence of 18 months in prison and a 1,000 euro fine. This was in accordance with the requisitions. 18 students were in their twenties and were talking on the balcony of "Le Surcouf", a residence in the middle of Angers. Then, it fell into a void. Firefighters found the bodies of Lou (18), Antoine (21), Benjamin (23), and Baptiste (25). Other victims were also taken to the hospital.
