Bayonne: White march in honor of bus driver Philippe Monguillot

Relatives of Philippe Monguillot, tram’bus driver violently attacked in Bayonne on Sunday, organized a white march on Wednesday evening.

More than 6,000 people gathered this Wednesday for a white march in Bayonne, between the Balichon stop and the Center Hospitalier de la Côte Basque to pay tribute to Philippe Monguillot, the tram’bus driver assaulted this Sunday.

Colleagues of the driver, residents of the Bayonne conurbation … Dressed in white, a flower in their hands, many people gathered at the Balichon stop, a stop where the bus driver was severely beaten on Sunday, organized by the relatives of the victim still in a state of brain death.

The driver’s wife and daughters arrived around 19:15 to applause, on foot from the Chronoplus depot, accompanied by the 300 drivers. The crowd was dressed in white, the color of the conductors of the network.

The driver’s wife Veronique Monguillot has spoken with dignity on several occasions. « I have cried too much, I have no more tears, » she said in particular, expressing the wish that her « guy be avenged ». A revenge that « will go through justice, » she said.

Three days after the very violent attack on a bus driver in Bayonne, Sunday evening, the four suspects were charged. All have been remanded in custody, two of them, aged 22 and 23, are being tried for attempted murder. On Wednesday evening, relatives of the victim, between life and death, called for a white march.

Among the other two suspects is a thirties, who lives alone in an apartment in the Balichon district. He is described by his neighbors as a marginal person known for nuisance and regular consumption of alcohol and drugs. « He was scary and we knew that one day something would happen with him, » said local residents. The fourth man indicted is 32 years old. The four suspects are currently in prison, having been placed in pre-trial detention.

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Gabriel MIHAI

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