The former top player faces a ten-year prison sentence. Almost 11 years have passed since the events.
Tony Vairelles scored one goal in his national team. AOP
Former striker of the French national football team Tony Vairellesia is facing a ten-year sentence and fines of 150,000 euros, reports Nice-Matin.
Vairelles is suspected of having three brothers Giovanin, Jimmyn and Fabricen from a shooting incident ten years ago in which three guards were injured.
The quartet was previously charged in the case with attempted murder for which the sentence would have been life sentence. However, the charges eased.
The brothers ’lawyer has argued that Vairelles should be acquitted because time has passed too long and there is no video evidence.
The trial began after ten years and five months.
What happened?
The night before October 23, 2011, the brothers were spending the evening at a nightclub. The two youngest brothers, Giovan, 20, and Jimmy, 30, were thrown out of the dispute.
Carlo Di Napolione of the nightclub’s four guards told the court about the brothers ’behavior before the incident.
– When they left, they said they were shooting us in the head.
The twin returned to the scene armed with Tony, 38, and Fabrice, 40.
Vairelles deny shooting, but three guards had still been hit by bullets.
The guards themselves were armed with tear gas and a swab.
The case is being investigated in three parts and began on Monday.