Sofitel massacre

On the night of 4-5 August 1983 at 3:30 am, a gunman entered a luxury Sofitel hotel in Avignon, France, and killed seven people there in what has been referred to as the Sofitel massacre. Four of the deaths were employees and three were customers.[1]

Police believed the suspects were three robbers who attempted to break into the hotel's safe deposit boxes, and that they killed the victims to eliminate any witnesses. The robbers also took some staff members hostage, apparently to search for a master key of the boxes.[2]

The French government was criticised by hotel and restaurant unions as well as police unions, demanding tougher action against crime. In addition it happened after the government abolished the death penalty for murders and in another move made it easier for long-term prisoners to win parole.[2]

Jean Roussel, a 38-year-old robber, was arrested soon after whilst the other suspects escaped. Roussel barely spoke amid the investigation and he died from a heart attack in 1985.[3] In June 1987, François Arpinot, a scrap dealer, and Gérard Rolland, a nightclub bouncer, were sentenced to 18 and 15 years in prison respectively. It was implied that Roussel launched the robbery to finance his escape, as he was already detained in another case but granted leave.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Été 1983 : le massacre du Sofitel d'Avignon". 22 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 Lewis, Paul. "7 SLAIN IN BUNGLED ROBBERY AT HOTEL IN SOUTHERN FRANCE".
  3. ↑ Universalis, Encyclopædia. "3-5 août 1983 - France. Polémique après la tuerie du Sofitel d'Avignon - Événement - Encyclopædia Universalis". Encyclopædia Universalis.
  4. ↑ "Avignon : le 5 août 1983 à 3h30 du matin, bain de sang à l'hôtel Sofitel".

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