A trial has opened in Paris for the murder of former Argentina rugby international Federico Aramburu, who was shot dead on March 19, 2022, after an altercation near Boulevard Saint-Germain. Two men, Loik Le Priol and Romain Bouvier, are facing charges of murder and attempted murder, with Le Priol accused of firing the fatal shots and Bouvier of firing a weapon during the incident. The trial is expected to run until September 25, when a verdict will be delivered. The three defendants could face life sentences if convicted.
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.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 6825 · logged 2026-09-07
Trial opens in Paris for murder of Argentina rugby star
PARIS, Sept 7 -
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Trial → open → star
The trial for 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
Their lawyers didn't immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
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lawyers → respond → comment
According to the investigation, Aramburu 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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Aramburu → accord → March
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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altercation → say → groups
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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staff → escalate → documents
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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Priol → accord → fire
Aramburu died at the scene.
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Aramburu → die → scene
The three defendants fled, say prosecutors.
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prosecutors → flee → ?
Rochemir was arrested in Paris later that day, 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 the border 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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court → expect → verdict
Le Priol, Bouvier and Rochemir all face life sentences.
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Priol → face → sentences
Aramburu, who won 22 caps for Argentina and played for French clubs including Biarritz and Perpignan, was 42.
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who → win → Biarritz
