“It is a tradition in my family to have ammunition at home. It keeps the bad vibes away ”… the 20-year-old man on Monday by the Toulouse Criminal Court did not convince many people with his explanations.
The case dates back to December 24, in the Mirail district in Toulouse, where the police are carrying out a public road operation with a stupid dog and a gun specialist. Quickly, the latter marks the door of an apartment. The police open it. They are faced with two boys of 19 and 20 years old, but not only.
Inside the accommodation, they discover 39 cartridges of 22 long rifles, 70 grams of herbal cannabis, a kilo of resin and cannabis oil. The apartment also holds the tidy sum of € 8,500 in cash.
The two suspects are taken into custody. The 19-year-old is there “by chance”. The 20-year-old was with his mother. “Beginner dealer”, according to him, he only has 700 € of the large sum of money. The rest goes to his generous mother, who borrowed it from friends to buy a car for her son.
At the hearing, the man, very talkative, does not deny. “I admit my wrongs. I sold drugs because it was the only way out for me. I lost my job, I have a debt of 25,000 euros, a toddler and I have to help my mother pay the bills ”.
As for ammunition, it is “a tradition”. The president is annoyed: “You can tell us anything if you want. It’s your right. “
The prosecutor emphasizes “fanciful explanations” and requires 18 months of imprisonment, 9 of which are accompanied by a probationary suspension. For the defense, Me Hélène Bonafe, denounces “disproportionate requisitions”. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, 9 of which were suspended on probation. The court revokes 3 months of suspension. He is now in detention. The sums seized are confiscated.