Parents testify in Frenchman murder trial

A group of football hooligans was back in the dock today in Belgrade as their trial for the murder of French national Brice Taton continued. The victim's parents, Suzanne and Alain Taton, appeared before the court today as witnesses and told the judges that their son was “not murdered, but massacred”. Parents testify in Frenchman murder trial Alain Taton also said that they wished to see the killers of their son receive tough punishment for committing an unforgivable act, and that they would persist with their compensation claim. “He was a good son and a young man full of life, and I cannot forget the way in which he died,” Bruce Taton's mother, Suzanne, told the Higher Court in Belgrade. The parents described how they received the news, and what their son's friends told them about the incident. They said that according to this, Taton was attacked by some twenty hooded men, that the attack happened quickly, and that other French fans could not help him. “My reaction, when I saw the defendants, was disbelief, especially since some of them are very young. I cannot understand how someone so young and who looks like that can do something so terrible,” said Suzanne Taton. Her husband said he was “grateful to the Serb nation, officials and ordinary citizens, everyone who offered us support”, and added those gestures were precious in the difficult moments following the death of their son. The defense lawyers concentrated on attempting to get the victim's parents to state for the court that they were “promised from the top of the Serbian government that the defendants would receive maximum punishment” before the court case had begun. But Judge Mirjana Ilic did not allow the witnesses to answer, qualifying the questions as offensive to the court. However, once she was out of the courtroom, Suzanne Taton told reporters that she and her husband did not receive any promises of the kind. 15 fans of Partizan FC stand accused of inflicting deadly injuries to Taton on September 17, 2009 in Belgrade. The Frenchman, who traveled to Belgrade to support his club which played against Partizan in a European competition, succumbed to his wounds 12 days later. 15 persons have been indicted, two of whom are still on the run. The pair, identified as Djordje Prelic and Ivan Grkovic, have been named as the organizers of the group that assaulted Taton. The third ringleader, Ljubomir Markovic, is in custody. Previously during the trial, our reporter says, “almost all” denied the allegations in the indictment against them. A file photo of Brice Taton

Parents testify in Frenchman murder trial

Alain Taton also said that they wished to see the killers of their son receive tough punishment for committing an unforgivable act, and that they would persist with their compensation claim.

“He was a good son and a young man full of life, and I cannot forget the way in which he died,” Bruce Taton's mother, Suzanne, told the Higher Court in Belgrade.

The parents described how they received the news, and what their son's friends told them about the incident.

They said that according to this, Taton was attacked by some twenty hooded men, that the attack happened quickly, and that other French fans could not help him.

“My reaction, when I saw the defendants, was disbelief, especially since some of them are very young. I cannot understand how someone so young and who looks like that can do something so terrible,” said Suzanne Taton.

Her husband said he was “grateful to the Serb nation, officials and ordinary citizens, everyone who offered us support”, and added those gestures were precious in the difficult moments following the death of their son.

The defense lawyers concentrated on attempting to get the victim's parents to state for the court that they were “promised from the top of the Serbian government that the defendants would receive maximum punishment” before the court case had begun.

But Judge Mirjana Ilić did not allow the witnesses to answer, qualifying the questions as offensive to the court.

However, once she was out of the courtroom, Suzanne Taton told reporters that she and her husband did not receive any promises of the kind.

15 fans of Partizan FC stand accused of inflicting deadly injuries to Taton on September 17, 2009 in Belgrade.

The Frenchman, who traveled to Belgrade to support his club which played against Partizan in a European competition, succumbed to his wounds 12 days later.

15 persons have been indicted, two of whom are still on the run. The pair, identified as Đorđe Prelić and Ivan Grković, have been named as the organizers of the group that assaulted Taton.

The third ringleader, Ljubomir Marković, is in custody.

Previously during the trial, our reporter says, “almost all” denied the allegations in the indictment against them.