Two South African crew members of a yacht moored in Monaco remain in provisional detention following a brawl that occurred near Port Hercule, as first reported by Monaco-Matin. The two men, aged 27 and 28, appeared before the Monaco Criminal Court at a flagrante delicto hearing on Friday, where they requested additional time to prepare their defense. Represented by their lawyer, Sarah Caminiti-Rolland, they argued for the delay to better explore the circumstances surrounding the altercation.
The altercation, which took place around 00:30 near local nightclubs, left the victim with 15 days of temporary incapacity for work. With their heads lowered, the two defendants were escorted into the courtroom by prison officers from the Monaco remand center. Both men face charges for acts of violence committed while under the influence of alcohol.
During the hearing, their lawyer, Ms. Caminiti-Rolland, requested a postponement, citing the need for further investigation. “This decision will result in them remaining in pretrial detention, and they are fully aware of that,” she stated. She also requested that additional witnesses be heard, including individuals who were with her clients during the incident, as well as staff from the La Rascasse and Brasserie establishments. Furthermore, she called for video surveillance footage from 21:00 onwards to be reviewed to clarify the behavior of all parties involved. “We reserve the right to file a complaint against the civil party, who struck the first blows,” she added.
Ms. Caminiti-Rolland also requested that her clients, who have no prior convictions and a history of exemplary behavior, be released under judicial supervision for the duration of the trial. She proposed that they surrender their passports as a condition for their release, emphasizing their cooperation with the court.
However, the prosecution, led by Deputy Prosecutor Julien Pronier, opposed the request, expressing concerns that the defendants might use the opportunity to evade justice. “This is a straightforward case with no discrepancies between the victim’s and the defendants’ accounts,” he argued. “The incident was captured on camera, and my intention was to also consider the victim’s own faults.”
After deliberation, the court decided to keep the two men in custody, citing a “lack of guarantee of representation, a risk of reoffending,” and the need “to avoid any pressure on the victim and witnesses.” The court also denied the defense’s request for further investigations, although they may still call witnesses to testify during the trial.
The trial is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 11, at 11:00.
