Criminal charges dropped against Swiss police officers accused of killing a black man
A modified Avenue Sainte-Luce sign is photographed on the sidelines of a demonstration in tribute to Mike Ben Peter and against racism on March 1, 2023 in Lausanne.
Keystone
The Public Prosecutor's Office of canton Vaud has dropped charges against six white police officers linked to the death of a black man in Lausanne in 2018.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/ds
Italiano
it
Cadono le accuse penali contro i poliziotti svizzeri accusati di aver ucciso un uomo di colore
The officers had been accused of “homicide through negligence” over the death of Mike Ben Peter, a 39-year-old Nigerian who suffered a fatal heart attack after being belly tackled by the officers.
Prosecutor Laurent Maye believes they should be acquitted and dropped the charge on Monday, saying there was no “causal link” between the forceful arrest and the heart attack.
Simon Ntah, the lawyer for Ben Peter’s family, had told the court that it was an “insult to intelligence” to consider the death an accident, according to Reuters.
The death of Ben Peter has drawn comparisons to the one of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a police officer who knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes while conducting an arrest.
Floyd’s death fueled the Black Lives Matter movement confronting historical and systemic racism in the United States and beyond.
This article was corrected on July 13, 2023. It previously stated that “The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland” had dropped the charges. It should read “The Public Prosecutor’s Office of canton Vaud…”
Popular Stories
More
Workplace Switzerland
Meet the foreigners who make up a quarter of the Swiss population
What can be done to protect biodiversity in your country?
Swiss voters are set to decide on a people’s initiative calling for better protection of ecosystems in the country. Have your say on the September 22 vote.
Swiss rents expected to keep rising owing to low vacancy rates
This content was published on
Although the decline in vacancies has slowed this year, it is likely to continue next year, according to UBS. As a result, rents are expected to continue to rise.
Swiss government wants to support cantons financially after storms
This content was published on
The Swiss government wants to secure additional financial aid for cantons Graubünden, Ticino, Valais, Vaud and Bern following the severe storms last summer.
Eight years for parents who killed disabled daughter in Switzerland
This content was published on
A couple who killed their severely disabled daughter in Hägglingen, northern Switzerland, have each been sentenced to eight years in prison.
Researchers throw concrete blocks down Swiss mountain
This content was published on
Researchers are rolling huge chunks of concrete down the slope on the Weissfluhjoch near Davos in eastern Switzerland for scientific purposes.
This content was published on
Almost two-thirds of Swiss people are more frequently concerned with death and the issue of living wills and advance healthcare directives.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss police officers on trial over black man’s death
This content was published on
Six police officers face homicide charges following the 2018 death of a black man after he was pinned, face-down, for several minutes during arrest.
Switzerland defends racism record at UN rights council
This content was published on
The Swiss Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council has said that a report criticising structural racism in the country included “misunderstandings”.
Expert group criticises systemic racism in Switzerland
This content was published on
Black people in Switzerland face everyday discrimination as well serious racial profiling by the police, a UN working group has found.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.