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international
Two men convicted of murdering their ex Argentina Federico Martín Aramburu was sentenced by the International Court of Justice in Paris.
Loïk Le Priol, 32, was jailed for 26 years after being found guilty of murdering Aramburu, while Romain Bouvier, 35, was jailed for 19 years after being convicted of attempted murder.
Aramburu, who won 22 caps for Argentina and spent most of his club career there France with Biarritz, was shot dead in Paris in March 2022 after an argument outside a bar in the city’s Saint-Germain district. He was 42 years old.
French prosecutors sought 27 and 20 years in prison for Le Priol and Bouvier. The court dropped those requests, but rejected arguments focused on self-defense and psychological damage.
According to the court, Le Priol was responsible for the fatal shots that killed Aramburu after a confrontation that began in a Paris bar before continuing on the street. The court described the pair, who fired a total of 10 shots at Aramburu, as being united by a fascination with guns and violence.
Before the sentencing, Le Priol addressed Aramburu’s family and asked for their forgiveness, saying he hoped they would one day find the strength to forgive him.
“I’m a Christian, just like you… The Pope is in Paris today,” Le Priol said. “I don’t know if this is a sign, but I hope that one day they will find the strength to forgive me, and that I will find the strength to forgive myself.”
Also heard at the trial was Shaun Hegarty, ex New Zealand a rugby player and former teammate of Aramburu, who was present on the night of the shooting. Hegarty rejected the defendants’ claims and accused them of trying to avoid responsibility for their actions.
The case was followed closely in France and Argentina. Members of Los Cougars publicly supported calls for justice during the trial.
Le Priol and Bouvier have 10 days to appeal the verdict.
