French court sentences far-right militants to 26 and 19 years for killing rugby star Aramburu

Verdicts in Paris court

The Paris assize court delivered its verdict on Friday, 25 September 2026, concluding a trial that lasted nearly three weeks. Presiding judge Franck Zientara sentenced 32-year-old Loik Le Priol to 26 years in prison for the murder of Federico Martin Aramburu. His co-defendant, 35-year-old Romain Bouvier, received a 19-year prison sentence for attempted murder after opening fire during the same incident. The court rejected the aggravating factor of premeditation but ruled that both men acted with deliberate homicidal intent. Both defendants had previous convictions for aggravated assault and were former members of the banned Groupe Union Defense. The defense has 10 days to lodge an appeal.

Loik Le Priol26

Romain Bouvier19

Loik Le Priol

26 years

Romain Bouvier

19 years

Data from the article text

Confrontation on Boulevard Saint-Germain

The fatal shooting occurred in the early morning of 19 March 2022 following an altercation at the Mabillon cafe in the sixth arrondissement of Paris. Aramburu, a 42-year-old father of three who won 22 caps for Argentina and helped the national team finish third at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, had been drinking with former teammate Shaun Hegarty. A dispute began between their table and an adjacent table occupied by Le Priol, Bouvier, and Le Priol's then-girlfriend Lyson Rochemir. After security staff separated the groups, Le Priol and Bouvier pursued the two unarmed rugby players in a Jeep driven by Rochemir. Bouvier discharged his firearm first, striking Aramburu twice, before Le Priol fired fatal shots into Aramburu on Boulevard Saint-Germain.

“The narcissistic, intrusive and uncontrollable rage of Loik Le Priol ultimately led to the gratuitous killing of Mr. Aramburu.”

Trial arguments and legal claims

Throughout the proceedings, defense lawyers argued that the defendants acted in self-defense, citing childhood trauma in Bouvier's case and post-traumatic stress disorder for Le Priol, a former military serviceman. Advocate General Philippe Courroye requested prison terms of 27 years for Le Priol and 20 years for Bouvier, arguing that both men imposed private armed violence. Rochemir received a three-year sentence, with 30 months suspended, for obstructing the investigation. Aramburu's widow, Maria, asked the court for a ruling that would allow her three children to rebuild their lives. Before the jury retired to deliberate, Le Priol addressed the victim's family in court on Friday morning, referring to the papal visit to France.

“I'm Christian like you, the pope is here today, I don't know if it's a sign, hope one day you can find the strength to forgive me.”

Aftermath and judicial timeline

Following the 2022 shooting, the defendants fled the capital before law enforcement tracked them down. Hungarian police arrested Le Priol at the border with Ukraine, where he told authorities he intended to join the fighting. Aramburu had settled in the French Basque Country after ending his club career in 2012, having played for Biarritz, Perpignan, Dax, and Glasgow Warriors. The trial in Paris drew support from prominent sports figures, including former French rugby player Thomas Lievremont and tennis director Amelie Mauresmo. Earlier in September 2026, the Argentine national rugby team wore black shirts bearing the slogan Justice for Fede to honor the former international.