The trial over the murder of former Argentina rugby player Federico Aramburu has begun in Paris, more than four years after his death on March 19, 2022. Two men, Loik Le Priol and Romain Bouvier, who are already serving prison sentences for aggravated assault, face charges of murder and attempted murder. The trial is expected to conclude by September 25, with the defendants potentially facing life sentences. Aramburu was shot dead after an altercation involving several people near a Paris café, where he had been having a drink with a friend.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The trial has opened in Paris over the murder of former Argentina rugby star Federico Aramburu, who was shot dead on March 19, 2022 near the Boulevard Saint-Germain after an altercation with a group linked to France's extreme right. Two men, Loïk Le Priol, 32, and Romain Bouvier, 35, are charged with murder and attempted murder, respectively, and face the possibility of life imprisonment. Both men were already serving prison sentences for aggravated assault in a separate case. The incident occurred when Aramburu was having a late drink with friend Shaun Hegarty at a cafe, while Le Priol and his associates were at a nearby table. CCTV footage showed a confrontation between the two groups before the shooting. The trial is expected to last until September 25, with a verdict expected on that date. Aramburu was 42 years old at the time of his death and had played for Argentina in 22 international matches, helping the team finish third at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Written for “Federico Aramburu Murder Trial” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
The trial over the murder of former Argentina rugby international Federico Aramburu opens in Paris on Monday, more than four years after he was shot dead in the French capital following an altercation near the Boulevard Saint-Germain.
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he → open → Germain
Two former members of a violent far-right group will face trial on murder and attempted murder charges.
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members → face → charges
Loik Le Priol, 32, who investigators say fired the fatal shots, is charged with murder.
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investigators → say → murder
His associate Romain Bouvier, 35, who prosecutors say also fired a weapon during the incident, is charged with attempted murder.
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prosecutors → say → murder
Both men are already serving prison sentences for aggravated assault in a separate case.
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men → serve → case
According to the investigation, Aramburu, 42, was having a late drink with friend and fellow former rugby player Shaun Hegarty on the terrace of the Mabillon cafe on March 19, 2022.
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Le Priol, Bouvier and Le Priol’s then girlfriend, Lyson Rochemir, 29, who is also on trial on an attempted murder charge, were at a nearby table.
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who → attempt → table
Investigators say an altercation broke out between the two groups.
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CCTV footage reviewed during the investigation showed a confrontation involving Hegarty and Le Priol.
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footage → review → Hegarty
The dispute escalated into a physical fight involving Aramburu, Hegarty, Le Priol and Bouvier before security staff intervened, according to court documents.
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Prosecutors say the confrontation continued outside shortly afterwards.
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confrontation → say → ?
According to investigators, Bouvier, who had arrived in a car driven by Rochemir, fired shots at Aramburu before Le Priol opened fire.
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Aramburu died at the scene.
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Aramburu → die → scene
The three defendants fled, according to prosecutors.
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Rochemir was arrested in Paris later that day, and Bouvier a few days later in the Sarthe region.
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Rochemir → arrest → region
A third man, Antony Sorrentino, is also on trial, accused of helping Bouvier evade arrest.
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Bouvier → accuse → arrest
Le Priol was arrested in Hungary while attempting to cross into Ukraine.
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Priol → arrest → Ukraine
The trial is expected to run until September 25, when the court is due to deliver its verdict.
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Le Priol, Bouvier and Rochemir all face life sentences.
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Aramburu won 22 caps for Argentina and played for French clubs including Biarritz and Perpignan.
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The trial has prompted calls for justice in Aramburu’s native Argentina, where he played for the national team, with members of the Pumas wearing black T-shirts bearing the words “Justice for Fede” ahead of a match on Saturday.
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members → prompt → Saturday
Former friends and teammates have remembered Aramburu as “always smiling” and a “true friend”, while his loved ones have urged against any attempt to minimise his death.
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ones → remember → death
A campaign backed by his family, friends and the Argentinian rugby community aims to ensure “society remembers what is about to be tried: the murder of a 42-year-old man, father of three children, whose life was snatched away”.
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life → back → children
The killing was “marked by violence, hatred and extremist intolerance”, they said.
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they → mark → violence
The Argentine Rugby Union also issued a statement expressing “its support for the call for justice” for Aramburu.
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