Three far-right skinheads have gone on trial in France over the 2013 death of 18-year-old anti-fascist (or antifa) activist Clément Méric.
Scheduled to last two weeks, the trial began on Tuesday in Paris. Esteban Morillo and Samuel Dufour, both 25, have been charged with violence that led to the death of Méric. They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted, France 24 reported. Alexandre Eyraud, 29, a third defendant, has been charged with aggravated assault against two of the deceased activist’s associates. He faces up to five years in prison.
The incident occurred in June 2013 at a private clothing sale in an apartment in central Paris. Polo shirts by the British label Fred Perry were on sale, which were popular with members of the far-left and far-right groups. Although it was an invitation-only sale, individuals from both the left and right attended, according to The Guardian. This led a group of antifa activists to criticize a group of skinheads for wearing “white power” and “blood and honor” T-shirts.
