Overview
- The criminal trial opened in Angers on November 17 with six defendants, including Mayor Gilles Bourdouleix, prosecuted for involuntary homicides and injuries tied to the July 14, 2022 display.
- Court visuals showed spectators positioned roughly 30 to 50 metres from the firing site despite guidance calling for a 150‑metre buffer, with allegations of missing barriers and signage.
- On November 18, experts reported fragile, malfunctioning mortars and early firing defects, pointing to equipment and implementation failures by the pyrotechnics provider HTP, now operating as Féérie.
- Victims and relatives described lasting physical and psychological harm, including hospitalizations and daily difficulties, as the court reviewed videos and photos from the scene.
- Defence teams disputed accountability, with the mayor invoking a 2021 delegation of policing powers to an adjoint and other parties arguing responsibility also lies with the artificier, organizers, and public authorities.