Paris trials after riots: justice under strain

Dozens of immediate appearance trials were held Tuesday at the Paris judicial court following Saturday's riots, with the atmosphere tense and chaotic as the justice system processed a large influx of detainees. The court operated in crisis mode, using four courtrooms instead of the usual two to handle around sixty cases in one afternoon. Paris accounted for 35% of France's 2,400 arrests on October 17, creating congestion that led to organizational confusion and fears of expedited justice. Lawyers criticized political pressure for severity, with one attorney denouncing ministerial interference in judicial decisions. Sentences varied, including immediate incarceration for a man with a knife and provisional detention for a Tunisian who threw projectiles. Some defendants received more lenient outcomes, such as judicial supervision instead of detention, highlighting inconsistent rulings. A man accused of looting claimed "group effect," saying he picked up shoes and glasses from the street, while prosecutors sought stiff penalties including 18 months for one defendant and two years for another.