Bayonne festival: man, 58, dies after being punched
It follows a row, which broke out on a bus, between two attendees
The festival held in the south-west of France was embroiled in controversy last year, after a resident was killed by attendees
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A 58-year old man has died, almost a week after being punched multiple times during an argument while attending the Bayonne festival in south-west France.
The man, who has not been named, was involved in a dispute on a bus with another man. They then both stepped off the vehicle and the incident happened.
The deceased was reportedly punched twice in the face by a 39-year old – who claimed to be a former boxer – after which he collapsed.
Emergency services rushed the man to hospital but he was pronounced dead on Tuesday (July 16) evening. This information was made public on Wednesday.
An investigation into ‘voluntary manslaughter’ of the man was opened, although the case is now being classed as murder (homicide volontaire).
Conflicting accounts of fight
There are differing reports as to why the fight broke out.
The attacker, who originates from the Caribbean department of Guadeloupe, claims the man used ‘racist remarks’ against him.
He also said he was acting in self-defence after the other man attacked him.
The wife of the deceased however disputes this and CCTV footage from the incident on July 11 shows the 58-year old did not attack the other man first.
The bus driver and another worker nearby tried to break up the fight, but were unable to do so before the victim was punched.
The other man was arrested on Friday (July 12). He is reported to be known to police and to have 16 criminal convictions, including 12 for violent conduct.
He had also served three years in prison for domestic violence, and had recently been released from prison in April 2024.
It is the second consecutive year that a person has been killed relating to the festival, which was attended by around 1.3 million people last time it was held.
In 2023, a resident was killed after confronting three festival attendees he found urinating outside his house.
Read more: Protest planned after man attacked at French festival dies
