Overview

• The trial, held in Angers, addresses the deaths of a 7-year-old boy and his 24-year-old sister during a fireworks display in Cholet on July 14, 2022.
• Defendants include Cholet's mayor Gilles Bourdouleix, the lead artificer, his employer HTP, the association Cholet Événements, and its vice-president.
• Prosecutors allege safety lapses, including failure to enforce a restricted zone and use of faulty equipment, contributed to the tragedy.
• The victims' family and 12 others suffered injuries when projectiles fell into a crowd in an area that should have been off-limits to the public.
• The trial is expected to last five days, with victims' families seeking clarity on the responsibilities behind the deadly incident.