"CAUGHT IN THE ACT" "A person caught in a criminal act by the police is held in custody then ordered by a Public Prosecutor to be sent to a hearing in the Law Courts." "This person appears before a District Attorney who informs him/her of the alleged felony and hears his/her statement in the offices of the 8th district in charge of crimes." "After the first hearing either the person is given what is known as an "immediate pleading", in which case he/she may consult a lawyer prior to trial by a public criminal court, or he/she is dismissed and ordered to appear in court at a later date." "This film follows the procedural itinerary of the accused from arrival in the holding cell until seeing the lawyer." "We thank the 86 arrested persons who showed their trust in us by agreeing to be filmed." "We chose 14 people who were ultimately tried and in order to safeguard their anonymity, we have changed their family names." "Authorization to film was given under specific conditions so as to respect the confidentiality of each case." "PALAIS DE JUSTICE PARIS" "Hearing in progress Do not disturb" "No sir..." "It won't be long..." "Yes, bring me the gentleman's statements." "He's not sure if it's a police report or immediate pleading..." "All right." "You're a little deaf, can you hear?" "Yeah." "You are El Tari Crachim?" "Yes, m'am." "Born June 10, 1975 in Tizi-Ouzou?" "Yes, m'am." " You're here before me..." " What?" "Tizi-Ouzou in Algeria?" "I was born there..." "That's not the same!" "No, it's the same, doesn't matter." "To me it does, I like things to be clear." "En El Haman, born in En El Haman." "Why they put Tizi-Ouzou is a mystery!" "I suggest that you stole from a car a small bag containing clothes, toiletries and shoes that you found in the car." "Yes m'am." " You did it?" " Yes." "Why tell the police you didn't?" "I told the police it wasn't true?" "All right, I stole the bag..." "You stole it, yes or no?" "I stole the bag." "Did you damage the car?" "Damage the car?" "Yes, I'll tell you what the owner says..." "But I didn't damage it..." "He says:" ""The window of my car was broken..."" "The window..." "Yes, I know." " Did you break it?" " No, it wasn't me." "Where was the bag?" "In the back." "Was the door open or did you use the window?" "How did you open it?" "It was already broken..." "Are you working?" "No m'am..." "I'm registered at the Employment Agency..." "You've had several convictions?" "You've often had trouble with the courts, is that true?" "Yes m'am." "Either you stop or you go to prison, to prison..." "Well I'll stop because..." "If not, it's Fleury prison..." "Yes, Fleury..." "Have you done any community service?" "What's that?" "Obviously not." "Fine..." "Sign at the bottom..." "When was the last time you left prison?" "Me?" "I was never in prison!" "Before the judges but never in prison?" "I saw Judge Chailloux when I was a minor." "You were a minor..." "So he..." "With my parents..." "Because of thefts, because you'd stolen..." "No, not a theft..." "it was something else..." "Education..." "And yet the police state you were caught in 1993 for stealing a bike and for violent behavior." "Yeah." "For breaking into cars and thefts from cars." "Is that true?" "Yes m'am." "You never went to prison?" "Well, the danger now is..." "Yes, I'm an adult..." "That's it." "Yes but I'm stopping, have to stop, if not..." " You must stop." " That's for sure!" "What were you going to do with the stuff?" "What?" "The bag, etc-why d'you do it?" "I wanted to see what was in it, it's interesting..." "So I've added:" ""I stole the bag, did not break the window, it was already broken..."" "I don't necessarily believe you but I'm writing it..." "But I'm writing it, writing it..." ""I stole the bag, did not break the window, it was already broken." ""The bag was on the back seat." ""I wanted to see what was inside."" "You'll see a lawyer and then go to court." "Now, as you say, you're adult, so you must explain yourself when you commit a misdemeanor." "So I'm not free today?" "No sir, you're not free today." "You've been used to doing things and nothing happens." "That's over now, this must stop!" "The court will decide." "But sir, this is serious..." "The lawyer will explain." "If prison scares you, tell the lawyer to ask for community service, he'll know." "You understand?" "Yes m'am." "That's all, sir." "Lawyer first, then the court." "I'm dealing with the law, the law..." "This is really the law... yes, before too..." "I was in court... not me..." "I was convicted, 3 months suspended sentence..." "You can't have a suspension 10 times, not even 3 times maybe even the 3 months will be required." "The lawyer may get community service for you." "What will the lawyer do?" "Try to defend you, he'll explain." "Goodbye." "Goodbye m'am..." "It's interesting..." "This concerns you!" "It may not interest you, but you're involved!" "Do I go to prison for that?" "You can go to prison for theft when you've committed many others, yes..." "You're accused of stealing 3 fake coins 3 bank notes, a neck chain, through trickery..." "Just a moment..." "Yes, can I put you on hold for 5 minutes?" "I'm doing a hearing..." "You stole all this and admit it?" "Yes." "Was it premeditated or..." "No?" "No." ""I admit..." The trouble is your police record..." "I know that." " Are you an addict?" " Yes." "What d'you use?" "Heroine, cocaine." " Every day?" " Yes." "Was it to sell and buy your dose?" "That's it." "How much does it cost a day?" "Between 400 and 500 francs." "That explains that..." "Residence?" "No." " Work?" " No." "Are you a squatter?" "I use my mother's address for mail." "From time to time I call by." "Did you try detox?" "Never." "Any court order for detox?" "It was never offered to me." "But you were offered several warnings:" "Suspension, half suspension, half not..." "Warnings are not detox." "I know sir, you've never had a conditional suspended sentence..." "You should be sentenced because with this, and that... and then a probation period for detox." "It's not up to me, the court decides." "Sign here..." "Even if it's offered, you must decide to stop, you!" "There's nothing outside..." "There's a whole list." "When you leave prison, ask for it." "From Marmottan to the Patriarche, it's not the same type but..." "look at them..." "I've done it all." "I've ten addresses in Paris and not only me!" "I've done it all." "In the provinces as well..." "I agree but there's a 3-4 month waiting list." "True, I'll add that." "Once you're outside, 3-4 months waiting, you start again." "Did you try to leave Paris?" "Where for?" "Where you can't find it so easily." "You find it all over m'am!" "Some places must be harder?" "Even the 16th, the Champs Elysées..." "Paris!" "I said leave Paris." "So: "I would have liked" ""to be disintoxicated," ""but everywhere," ""there is a 3-4 month waiting list." ""While waiting, I start again."" "Coming out you need a center to take you automatically." "If you go to prison, talk about it to the judge..." "If you do go, I'm not presuming, but with your record it's very probable..." "The centers, waiting lists, etc... but it's you, your decision." "You're adult, responsible, the only one who can decide is you." "See the lawyer who'll prepare your defense for this theft." "Then you appear in court for the judgment..." "The decision is up to them." "I told you because of your record, prison's very probable." "I can't say anymore sir, you may go." "See the lawyer." "I must shift to a higher gear, there are so many..." "No, but I trust you..." "Take it easy..." "Your name is Ermazoud?" " First name:" "Hamed." " Yes, m'am-judge." "Born October 10, '49 in Ouled Erard, Morocco?" "Yes m'am-D.A." "You're here for what we call 3-card Monte fraud." "No, no fraud, no complaints, no one..." "You'd been there for 10 minutes, the operator and two decoys." "You're the operator or decoy?" "Operator but I was betting on the horses." "We bet on 12 to win." " We each made 400 Frs." " Yes..." "When we hit 12, he won the pot." "We went out, said we'd share, we each made 450 Frs." "They caught you in the act Blvd." "Rochechouart." "They-that's the police-say three persons were working." "Not true, m'am-D.A.!" "The gentleman was operating the cards." "The other two were decoys, that means pretending..." "Yes, all right, m'am D.A." "They took the cards and 1,200 Frs." "Why tear up the cards?" "He said:" "You deliver or I tear them so move it!" "I said:" "Inspector, I've nothing to give you..." "He said:" "You'll pay for this!" "First he tore the cards, gave me my money, said to get going!" "He said:" "Got a tip for me?" "I said:" "Wait a minute, I'll find something." "He said:" "Right now!" "Then he threw the cards down..." "He said:" "Move it asshole, don't screw me, give me the cards..." "Sit down..." "You admit it?" "I can sum up what you said." "You admit you had the money, cards, two decoys and were..." "No problem m'am..." "We agree, you were solliciting people..." "No problem..." "The policeman would have turned a blind eye if you'd given him a tip?" "A tip worth 15,000." "Not 2-3,000 it didn't interest him." "He said I'd get 3 months." "Mme Jaquin, the boss, gave me time..." "He said if you don't listen, and bring me a tip," "I'll send you back home, to prison." "He wanted the Barbès cafes where they bet money, 4-5-10-20-30,000!" "I don't know, I've a kid, a wife, a house, m'am!" "They would kill me, I'll be shot." "I was knifed once by a guy who said I'd squealed on him." "They'll hit me." "Luckily my hand caught the knife." "Inspector Francis... he lives..." "So the guy came to Barbès." "He said the court doesn't make the laws." "If you give us tips, you're safe." "Bring us the guys who put the women to work." "You can play your cards in peace... you know..." "He said:" "We're here to watch for pickpockets, not your stuff, you work in peace." "I said OK." "Sit down." "I'm talking to m'am-D.A." "I wish you a happy new year, m'am-D.A." "I'm 45, was never married." "First time I'm married." " Would you stop..." " Yes, m'am." "You're 45, but in '79..." "You did a year for robbery." "In '85, 2 months suspended sentence for narcotics." "Was it you?" "Bobigny, Paris..." "Then I stopped." "He said:" "If you start smoking I'll deport you..." "In '85 you got 5 months for swindling." "Was that 3-card Monte in '85?" "In '85, yes m'am." "It was 3-card Monte." "You got money from a poor guy." "Poor guy!" "It's their fault to be so naive..." "You got 5 months for swindling for the same thing as now." "In '89 another 6 months, if you please... for swindling by deceitful practice." "You used another name so was it more than 3-card Monte?" "What other name, m'am?" "I don't know, using another name, fake ID..." " Was it 3-card Monte in '89?" " Yes." "All right." "In '89, a month in prison for illegal gambling." "Was it 3-card Monte?" "But there... there wasn't..." "I worked with Mme..." "But sometimes you appeared in court." "In '90..." "I worked a month with Mme..." "You did, yes..." "You were fined 5,000 Frs, your ID cards confiscated, for running a gambling establishment." "3-card Monte again?" "Yes, m'am-judge." "In '91, 4-month suspended sentence with community service." "Yes, m'am D.A." "For organizing illegal gambling..." "Yes m'am-D.A. I don't deny it." "You don't change d'you!" "But it's all to do with the police." "No, it's not the police, they caught you!" "I gave 4 kilos of hashish..." "That you're an occasional informer, from what you say, seems obvious but that you often play 3-card Monte is also obvious!" "I don't know what the police said but I say it's illegal to play 3-card Monte!" "It's over, I hope it's over." "Sign there..." "Enough of taking money from naive people..." "M'am, it's between friends, if someone complained..." "Why play that with friends!" "It's friends, every day... there's at least 80 people..." "Well sir, you see the judge today because 7, 8 or 10 convictions for 3-card Monte is enough!" "You must stop this!" "Let's see the magistrate..." "We'll see what the lawyer says." "I don't need one." "Yes, it's in your interest." "I don't care." "If we'd done business, I wouldn't be here, believe me!" "If I'd given them a good tip, I wouldn't be here!" "It's all noted..." "You threatened your wife verbally." "No m'am never." "I'll tell you what she reported..." "You'd kill her if she divorced." "No, no, not that m'am, no, not that!" "I'll tell you what she said, then I'll note your version." "She says you told her you'd kill her if she divorced." "After the murder you'd be in jail, she'd be in her grave." " No!" " Her words." "Never..." "I'll take note." "She also said you hit her on Dec. 27, that you hit her hard." "A medical certificate gave her a week off and she had..." "When examined she was hurt..." "No m'am, it was she who told me..." " You deny it?" " It's all a lie." "It's all a lie, it's words, you get mad, you say things..." "You're talking to me..." ""I don't admit the threats", right?" "What did you say?" "You said something?" "No m'am, I only said..." "A month ago, it was a bit weird..." "She bought weird stuff..." "One day she wore a skirt, later she put pants over it." "You know, weird stuff..." "Shit, why d'you do it?" "Is she going with someone?" "You tell me does she have someone?" "It was a Monday, Monday or Tuesday." "And she said: "There's someone"." "She was in my arms crying." ""Yes I love someone else."" "That's all." "And I said to her:" "I've refused the divorce as you didn't tell the truth." "Now you tell the truth I'll try the divorce." "It's not your fault, no one is..." "So when she told you there was another man..." "Yes I told her..." "Your only reaction was..." "We divorce!" "Right." "You hit her?" "No m'am, I swear, I swear before..." "What about her scars?" "Those scars on her head?" "She had them as a kid..." "Later..." "Doctors know the difference." "Yes m'am, listen, she pushed me down." "I have asthma, I wasn't well." "I put up my hands like that, just had time to put out my arm." "I pushed her, she hit me like that, look!" "She says she was hit, kicked, she's hurt..." "It's me, it's me who had all that..." "I'll read what the doctor says." "Yes of course, m'am..." "Swollen bruise on armpit hurts when touched." "Something there..." "Bruises, scratches on right forearm..." "Yes m'am, it was when..." "Cuts above right elbow, bruise on left forearm." "Bruise on left leg, on right leg." "No other marks..." "So she's marked on her limbs." "When I pushed her, I had to." "I couldn't breathe." "There's a mark here on my neck." "I was suffocating..." "You pushed her because..." "She held me like that..." "Even my daughter saw it!" "Sadly the children see this..." "No, she's the only one to suffer." "Of course." "I went up to her like this so she wouldn't hurt me, she threw herself on me crying, saying: "Louis..." She calls me Louis." ""..." "Forgive me I'm in love with another man."" "That's how it was, m'am." "Later she told me." "Let's stop this, sir!" "She cried." "I agreed with it all." "You live your life." " And?" " That's all." "That's not what it says here." "I've added:" ""I had to protect myself" ""by grabbing my wife's arms."" "You said that?" "To protect yourself..." "That's it..." ""I admit to no threats." "She bought weird stuff..." ""I pushed her, she held my throat." ""She wants a divorce..." "I protect myself..." ""The 1st time, Nov. 23, was the same she taunted me saying Kill me!"" ""She kicked me." That's it." "She tried to strangle me." "Listen, she's lucky..." " I couldn't breathe!" " I noted that." "When I knew she loved a man, I said OK divorce." "That's all..." "You reacted remarkably!" " That's all, it's true!" " No jealousy..." "Listen..." "She says there's someone, you say:" "I agree to divorce..." "She said it..." "Later she's beaten up..." "Yes, beaten up, I know you told me." "I told you and you can check, that's all." "We live as we wish but we can't hurt others." "No, no m'am, my wife..." "Listen..." "Me, I'm a man and I won't let myself be beaten up." "She doesn't love me, we divorce..." "That's all..." " Go see the lawyer..." " Yes." " He'll prepare with you..." " Yes." "...your defense." "The judge this afternoon." "You weren't often convicted..." "Your record shows frequent and violent scenes, it must stop." "The court will..." "Is my wife coming?" "She's not in your shoes." "You're accused, not the contrary." "No problem!" "Well goodbye, sir." "Goodbye, m'am..." "Excuse me..." "Of course." " Any convictions?" " None." "How long have you had trouble with alcohol?" "About two, three years." "It's a real problem." "It doesn't show yet, but it will." "You'll be in real trouble." "I had a period of no drinking, of sobriety, for four and a half months." "You know that one drink starts you off again." "You don't watch yourself, you drank heavily 2 days ago." "There are lapses." "Yes, lapses..." "The whole detox fails, you start at zero." "You've been told that." "You told me this..." "Listen..." ""I admit I did it because I was afraid." ""I'd drunk too much alcohol, I was weak," ""in a state of panic and paranoia." ""We met in the evening, they seemed harmless." ""The young guy left my place." ""I thought he took my purse" ""so I asked... to leave." ""We argued, I panicked." ""The knife was to scare him." ""My act exceeded my wishes."" " Do we agree?" " We agree." "Sign here, don't use all the space." "I must sign there too." "Now listen, madam, using a weapon on someone, instead of four days invalidity, could cause death if the knife hits an artery or lung." "You're lucky your temper had no worse consequences." "Is that clear?" "I believe alcohol is the problem." "But I take into account that you've no record... which leads me to hope this won't be repeated." "You need treatment, support." "I'm sending you to court on Feb. 25, '94 at 9 am." "You'll receive the summons." "You must attend... or you get a heavier sentence." "I'll go." "Be adult, the court dislikes people ignoring summonses." "Now you need a support group and detox treatment." "It's essential!" "You'll see a judge who'll probably put you on probation." "Then an inspector will explain your obligations." "My suggested obligation is treatment." "Careful, you were lucky." "Firstly, you had no record, now you do." "Secondly, you're lucky he wasn't badly hurt, or you could be tried in court for murder!" "Mortal blow with a weapon, it's worth more than 15 years now... 20 years." "You got lucky, you narrowly escaped a dramatic event." "You'll see the deputy judge who'll explain the judiciary ruling, and the inspector will explain your obligations until the hearing." "Goodbye." "You won't see a lawyer because you're free once you see the judge and inspector." "I think I'm going to detox..." "Even if it's only day care." "There are various forms of detox." "The inspector has addresses, etc." "Do it because, when you go to court, with the inspector's report, if you've done nothing, the judge will take note." "I totally agree and I think it's for my own good." "I'm not here to do things for your own good." "What I do, and my role's not the best, is to prevent this being repeated." "You claim it's to do with alcohol, so deal with that!" "You tell them why a gentleman was knifed who shouldn't have been!" "Goodbye, madam." "You're here because on Dec. 31..." " This morning?" " This afternoon." " What time?" " It was..." "I caught the train at 12.45 pm" "I got there at 1 pm." "It was 1.30 pm." " That's it." " 2 pm." "It's not important." "You stole various articles, clothes, shoes jewelry, fake jewelry even so the total value is 5,375 Frs stolen from Galeries Lafayette." "You damaged the clothes because you tore the sensor off the suit." "So, you were caught having committed these thefts and admitted the fact to the police." "I'll note your explanation..." "Let's say that I left the store with the clothes." "I couldn't prove I'd paid, I had no receipts." "You'd torn off a sensor!" "Yes of course, what I mean is they could have asked for a receipt which they didn't." "They quickly..." "They watched you in the store." "That's it, they quickly..." "They didn't ask me what happened they didn't ask me if I'd like to pay for some things some things I might have paid for." "They didn't ask, they took everything all of it." "They said:" "That's it!" "You were caught outside the store?" "With unpaid articles?" "Of course, madam..." "Were they to wear, to give away, to sell?" "To wear..." "For personal use." " To wear..." " Right." "You can see they are things of a nature" "to do with feminity, dresses, earrings accessories." "They're not, let's say, a car radio it's not a camera because a camera can be resold." "Clothes too..." "Oh, a dress doesn't sell well!" "I've tried that." "I bought Dior dresses years ago." "I was thinner." "I asked a friend if she could sell a dress to help..." "She told me she'd try." "Nothing came of it." "Well in any case you took these!" "I think if you leave here you'll say:" "I've no option, I'll steal again!" "It's unbelievable!" "I can change that, send you to court so you go to prison." "The problem isn't considered as a whole... only what concerns them..." "What concerns me is deliquency, avoiding repetition." "Delinquency is linked to something..." "Delinquency is not for fun unless one's mind is particularly..." "The Louis Feraud suit, so-and-so's shoes jewelry, that's something!" "You needn't steal." "You want to go to prison?" "No, maybe I should leave France..." "You won't have more or less money, you'd steal abroad?" "No, maybe here there's no way out." "Talk to your psychiatrist about those problems..." "The state supports you." "It's not luxury, far from it but you can eat and live somewhere can't you?" "The social worker is the same, it doesn't bother her." "Does what I say bother you?" "No more stealing!" "If not, back to prison!" "I don't know." "Remember the next theft, it's all centralized here." "I'll know and you go to prison!" "Remember!" "See the judge who'll put you under judiciary control the inspector will explain what you must do above all psychiatric treatment maybe the inspector can contact the medical service." "It's your last chance, not one more!" "It'd be better if I commit suicide." " You're free... to commit suicide..." " It's better..." " The psy." "Can..." " It's better..." "What about prison?" "It's better to commit suicide." "Have you learnt anything?" "No, nothing." "You're before me for having on Dec. 30 verbally abused public law enforcers" "2 gendarmes to whom you said:" ""Son of a bitch, dirty bastard, I'll kill you!"" "And other charming things." "I'll summarize..." "When asked to sit down, you resisted that's to say you didn't hit to hit but let's say you preferred not to obey not to be held down, correct?" "So you were arrested because at the railway station you'd drunk a lot of whisky and bothered everyone." "You were aggressive, insulting passengers so the security guards subdued you then you insulted the gendarmes." "The insults first, what have you to say?" "You recall saying the words I said?" "I said them yesterday." "Had you drunk a lot?" "You don't seem to recall." "I recall yesterday." "I recall it all." "Why were you so aggressive?" "I wasn't aggressive." "Verbally you were..." "I've the right to say what I want." "But not the right to insult policemen." "To do so is an offence." "Did you know it's an offence to insult a policeman, indeed anyone in charge of public order." "You say: "It's my right"." "So tomorrow if someone checks you or something, you do it again?" "You think it's your right?" "How can the police work if they're insulted?" "What d'you think?" "D'you think you're always right?" "Or d'you realize you can't say:" ""Son of a bitch, dirty bastard, I'll kill you!"?" "You can't say that." "Was it because of alcohol... you said it?" "You'd drunk a lot?" "No, not a lot." "A little?" "I'll write:" ""I'd drunk but not a lot", correct?" "The first offence?" "You could say so..." "When they tried to subdue you you resisted?" "Correct?" "The handcuffs?" "Yes." " I resisted?" " I don't know, it's what they..." "I don't think so." "Did you resist when they came up to you?" "Resist what?" "Resist:" "Refusal to be apprehended." "It means gesturing with arms, legs acting so as not to be apprehended." "I let myself be apprehended." "So you admit the insult, not the resistance." "The insult." "You admit saying these words:" ""I said it yesterday." ""I may express myself, I'd drunk, not a lot."" "You said that?" " Yesterday, what's it mean?" " An offence." "I said it to the police if I insulted them I was threatened." "To insult a policeman or gendarme doing his job is forbidden by law." "It's silly, you wouldn't have been in custody if you'd been quiet." "You have no police record you're doing your military service?" "I'll release you, immediately..." "You must appear in court on Feb. 3, '94, 9 am." "You must appear sir." "If you do not appear you'll receive a harsher sentence." "On the other hand, if you appear, with no record you may get... what is normal for people with no record." "Is what I've said clear?" "What's the risk?" " What?" " The risk?" "Insult and resistance..." "Insult 3 months, resistance 6 months." "What usually happens with a clean record you don't go to jail the first time." "...the court does at it likes... but if you appear, you're in the military if you say you're sorry" "I'm not sure about that..." "That's your release order." "And don't insult anyone again." "You've nothing to say?" "You can go." "There's a 23 year old girl charging her employer with sexual harassment." "So I want to know..." "The law states that for it to be sexual harassment the person is promised either promotion if she cooperates or she's threatened with sanctions if not." "It has to be clear." "What does she say?" "She works part-time at this company." "On several occasions her boss came up to her..." "Started to touch her, like hand on thigh hand on hair hand on back, half massaging... that's it..." "No promises of promotion..." "No sanctions if she refuses." "D'you have a second?" "I'll check the law book..." "Yes, of course..." "What sort of touching?" "I need details." "Hand on thigh, hand on shoulders... even touched her hair..." "That's all." "Hand on thigh might be an attempt at indecent behavior." "Was he always alone with her?" "Alone in an office." " I suggest calling in the boss." " Yes." "No urgency." "Hear what he says about touching her." "How should I do it?" "I'd prefer a procedure." "He needn't be taken into custody." "He should be questioned..." "Right, how do we define this stage?" "Attempted indecent behavior." "Right I'll do that." " 2nd district..." " Thank you." " Morning, inspector... 2nd district." " Morning sir." " I need a custody extension." " Yes?" "We've three suspects since yesterday 1 pm who were caught in an apartment taken in on suspected robbery with breaking in..." "They're from Zaire, no ID papers, they claim they were squatting in the place but now we've had the ID reports and one is well known under another name and has been sentenced four times." "So by 1 pm I couldn't..." "No time... all right." "They saw a lawyer?" "This morning, no problem." "I'll put you on to the secretariat for extensions..." "Three extensions..." " Are you a district attorney?" " Yes." "I think the man in question needs to be free..." "Yes?" "To walk without being locked up in a cage as you do to him today." "It doesn't give me..." "as if I wasn't a man." "In the way I came to France until today, arrest after arrest." "It doesn't give me a good feeling even." "OK?" "I'd prefer when I finish at the administrative court they make their decision and that's the end, OK?" "I prefer to stay outside, to walk, I'm a free man." " I see." " Forever." " I see." " My thoughts are so free." "Of course." "No one can force me to stay somewhere like that..." " You're a man of law?" " Yes." "I think you can respect the merits of certain people." "Yes of course, I can also take constraining measures." "Constraining measures..." "To ensure that democratic laws are obeyed in particular legal decisions, as well as... and this is not in your favor laws concerning aliens." "Thank you." "Now go to see the lawyer." "Do you want a legal aid lawyer to help you in court?" "I've been here enough..." "I advise you to take a lawyer your case is complicated." "They don't defend me." "They defend politics here." "So since I came here" "I give this, I talk like this, they change it their way so I'd like to talk about that..." "As you wish sir." " So I've no reason to ask asylum..." " Right." "Or to ask anything, or whatever else..." "A resumé..." "Thank you sir." "Now take him..." "No you don't want a lawyer... so take him to the holding cell..." "You're here before me because you were arrested after the attempted theft of a purse from a young woman who was also slapped which is why the charge is attempted theft with violence." "What d'you have to say?" "You did admit doing these things?" "I don't admit it." "You don't admit it!" "Because I..." "I don't know, I've got it all" "I don't want to steal." "Who needs money?" "I've got it all, food stamps..." "Why take the lady's money?" "You told the police that..." "No the police wants to get to the bottom, you know that." "They hit us as soon as we got there." "The inspectors hit us, look!" "I see the social workers they give me clothes, all that..." "Clothes, I don't need them." "Why?" "I was in the army in France." "It's no lie, food stamps, all that..." "You don't know the police!" "You should see, go down there." "Sure, they beat us and all." "They invented things..." "Your state of health reassures me..." "They invent things." "You signed it." "They hit you to make you sign?" "They hit me as soon as I came in." "Not today, the inspector was nice but yesterday..." "That's good!" "Here's this morning's statement." ""My intention" you said to today's nice inspector" ""was to steal the victim's purse" ""so that my friend and I could eat." ""I'll tell the truth," ""I've not committed any other thefts."" "I said it so he'd leave me alone, do I need him to eat?" "All right..." "You confessed in order to be left in peace?" " You said nothing?" " He said: "It'll go badly"." "You know the precinct." "That's what he said." "It was blackmail he used on me." "I've no obligations, I came for New Year's Eve we were leaving tonight..." "You're something of a rogue..." "I didn't hit the lady." "I don't hit ladies." "But she was hit, did your friend hit her?" " He hit her!" " Why?" "It began..." "People crowded in..." "It's true he didn't stop hitting the young woman." "He should have hit the others, belts came off, tear gas..." "In these cases what the victim says is vital." "She knows what she went through." "It's true, you mustn't hit, true she felt someone search in her purse and she turned." "She clearly saw who had opened her purse undoing the catch." "Was that you?" "Did you do it?" "It's called attempted theft." "Now two thefts." ""I gave him a mean look." "Closed my purse." ""Another man appeared" ""who shouted:" "You got a problem?" "And words I didn't understand." ""I said:" "My purse was opened." ""Then the man punched me in the face."" "So that's your buddy?" ""I was hurt on the right eyebrow, my glasses broken." ""My nose was bleeding, some passengers intervened" ""and the two men ran off."" "You ran off too?" "Because people ran after us, I told you." "You tried to open the purse?" " You tried?" " Yes." "Well sir... you have the art of keeping up appearances." "She's putting it on." "In the end it proves the police were not so wrong." "Well sir you, who are no rogue, have had several police warnings." "I've never been in jail!" "But in '89, juvenile court, theft... '89, juvenile court, 2 months suspended..." "Court in St. Etienne, as an adult... they can't find you, sentenced to 1 month." "But you are pardoned... then in Switzerland..." "That ring a bell, Switzerland?" "October '92." "Now the Swiss don't joke!" "They sent you to prison." "3 months from the Swiss." "For theft." "What?" "3 months prison?" " A lie!" " A lie?" " 1 week." " They got rid of you." " 1 week." " They were right..." "So... theft, vandalism violation of residence, that's the Swiss." "Use of narcotics, illegal entry into Switzerland." "In fact they threw you out after 1 week." " In jail for 1 week..." " True." "Trouble with the law for theft." "Right..." "So I'll write down..." "Let's synthesize..." "Let's synthesize for court:" ""I admit trying to open the purse."" "I took nothing." " Right." " Opened it, but took nothing." ""...tried to open..." ""the purse..." ""of this woman but I took nothing."" "So you feel a little less guilty?" "That's true, it's done, one must tell the truth." "Did you take off?" "I took off because they chased me." "So you took something!" "The people..." "I took what?" "You took off!" ""But I took nothing."" "You're tired, no?" "Yes, I'm tired." "What's your job?" "What's my job?" "I should..." "I don't live in Paris, I live in Lyon." "You're from Lyon?" "I wanted to do a course in bricklaying..." "Bored me." "I gave up bricklaying." "I wanted to do a course in plumbing." "I'm waiting for an answer to start..." "I'm at my parents..." "Any trouble with them?" " A bit." " A bit?" "No work, you know that..." "When you don't work..." " Profession?" " Yes." " What?" " Welder." "Welder..." "Yes, I hit her." "I didn't mean to, I wear a ring." "Just one rap and I left." "You don't hit women..." "That's for sure." "Some people take advantage..." "Women too because they're women." "It's not done." "I've dated girls, never hit a friend." "That's good." "Between a punch and a rap?" "No, a rap." "I didn't punch her." "Because she's a woman." "A rap for a woman, a guy I'd have punched" "I wear a heavy ring it'd have been worse." " It'd have hurt." " I hoped you'd see." "So why did you hit her?" "I hit her because coming out of the subway there was confusion, guys crowding my buddy." "She yelled: "Thief!"" "I said: "Madam I didn't do it."" "I was in psychiatry." "I'm on medication, bad nerves, you get me?" "I feel persecuted because of my background..." "I got mad, I rapped her." "That's all." "I didn't need to steal." "My buddy has food stamps and I was homeless..." "But why come to Paris?" "Here, no, no!" "I'm there." "I've been there 6 months, training reeducation..." "I've a 2-year state contract..." "A social worker sees me in Nîmes." "I've a place in Nîmes." "I'm here on vacation." "On the 5th I must get a deal in a hotel..." " You buying?" " No, find a trainee job..." "I found the hotel..." "In Nîmes..." "In Nîmes?" "So this is a vacation?" "I last saw my parents when I was 16 now I'm 24, I still haven't seen them." "I met him at a homeless place in Tolbiac, you can stay there." "There are homeless, hobos..." "I said:" "Come to Nîmes, a girlfriend will help you..." "Do the training, settle down..." "I get 1,300 Frs unemployment a month, plus training." " So you rapped this woman?" " Before..." "When she shouted "thief" and your buddy was surrounded." "I hit her." "I didn't intend to." "Don't overdo this intentional stuff." "You intentionally chose not to punch but to rap." " Intentionally?" " Yes." "I saw a woman, I hit her." "A guy I'd have punched." "You hit her because she shouted" ""thief"..." "I protected my friend." " Sadly he's the thief..." " Yes." "What about the theft?" "Why did you hit her?" "I came out of the subway my buddy was surrounded." "I didn't know..." " Surrounded by?" " Zorros we call them, people." "I turned round, went to help him." "He's my guy." "I met him this week." "To help..." "The woman shouted "thief", I hit her, I didn't punch her." "If she says so it's a lie, I've a ring, I didn't punch or she'd be hurt!" "What's her name..." "Pauline..." "I'm here for a rap!" "A rap, there's the theft!" "The other guy, not me." "I'm his friend." "Cool it!" "It's a readaptation course." "I believe it, the trouble is to prove to the court." "My unemployment card is being sent for my money..." "I haven't picked it up." "Training..." "Let's do the formalities." "Just a moment!" "Address for the training?" "Address?" "The Franca in Nîmes it's the group for the training and I do it..." "Phone?" "I don't know..." "I left everything in Nîmes." "Franca in Nîmes..." "Who's in charge?" "It's Magali..." "Magali..." "Magali... surname?" "I don't know." "I didn't ask what she ate last night!" " You get me?" " Yes..." "I've been training for a month..." "Readaptation..." "How d'you get it?" "The local mission, a career adviser Mr. Mousslic." "Mousslic, the adviser, he gives the courses." "I told him." "But why Nîmes?" "Strange..." "I left Paris because of addiction." "I went to Nîmes for the Feria, stayed 2 days..." "Slowly, you went to Nîmes." "You stopped drugs?" "I left Paris because of drugs, afraid to start again... prison..." "The right eye was punched by 2 people." "Two people?" "Males, unknown at 9 pm leaving subway, she complains of..." "A wound..." "Careful now..." "What is this?" " We saw her at the precinct." " Wait..." "She had no stitches, her glasses did it." "A rap here, no rap nor punch here." "She wants to nail me..." "Medical certificate from Hôtel Dieu" "Good hospital..." "You know the ropes!" "Certificate states supeficial wounds 5 stitches above right eye..." "Bruise on right..." "Forehead..." "Well forehead, normal." "Bruise upper eyelid..." "Pain when nose touched." "Suggest x-ray nose..." "No broken bones..." "The medical certificate is serious..." "She'll be scarred." "Look at my scars!" "That's your problem!" "Her problem is she rides a subway minds her business and is rapped and scarred." "She said I was a thief." "All right, but the problem is that she..." "I didn't punch, just a rap!" "But you rapped hard." "Because of the ring..." "Yes... but... nevertheless she's scarred." "5 stitches, it's no joke." "The court won't fail to point that out to you." "Think about it!" "Look!" "She's marked there, poor thing!" "On the eyebrow..." "Psychiatric ward..." "I've a bag of pills..." "I take pills for my nerves" "I'm still wired, nervous..." "I try to stop heroine..." " You stopped or..." " I stopped." "You stopped or tried?" "I stopped but when I come to Paris..." "Then stop coming to Paris." "I'm going back in a hurry." "I'll be jailed for a rap..." "It's about a store theft." "It took place at Virgin Megastore." "It happened the 19th, that's yesterday, at 11.45 pm." "For a total of 591 Frs." "The person admitted it." "What did he take?" " Some CDs." " CDs..." "Is he known?" "Very unfavorably." "Third time we had him this year and he was brought in twice in 2 other districts." "Hand him over to make a point..." "To court..." "A court procedure..." "Date of birth?" "May 22, '75." " Which makes you?" " 18." "18 years old." "Born, where?" "The Jura." " Nationality?" " French." "Your current profession?" "School, first year literature at... in the 5th district." "Brothers, sisters?" "A brother who died at birth my step-mother has a son he's not my father's son they married later." " You live at home?" " With my father." "His profession?" "Art director." "You are here accused on two counts." "First, damaging property belonging to Parisian Transport." " Graffiti on a subway car." " In a subway car." "Why did you do these graffiti?" "I've absolutely no idea... because..." "It destroys, pollutes the environment." "Parisian Transport spends a fortune to ensure cleanliness..." "Why d'you do it?" "It only achieves dirtying and damaging." "I do it from time to time." "It achieves nothing." "You bother everyone." " What d'you think?" " Yes, because..." "And you committed acts of violence against a Transport official." "What happened?" "What d'you do?" "We were between Rue du Bac and Sèvres-Babylone." "I'd done my graffiti and the driver saw it." "So we get to Sèvres-Babylone." "I stood up so I could get out." "Facing the door." "On my left was the driver's cabin." "I was in the first car just behind the cabin." "I didn't look ahead I didn't look left to the head of the train." "I was just gazing." "I open the door, push the lock, the door opens and he grabs me..." "I didn't think it was an employee, that it was a subway driver because he seemed to be about 20, more a student." "He was dressed" "I don't know, rather like me and I didn't realize he was a..." "He had a badge?" "I didn't see." "He caught me." "I was face to face with him." "That's all I know." "I don't know what happened..." "I found myself there..." "In a flash I found myself using my spray can..." "A medical certificate for 7 days incapacity..." "He does his job!" "Well, I'm going to release you." "The hearing date..." "You must be in court on Friday, March 4, '94." "Meanwhile you're on probation, which means you can commit no offence and must fulfill your obligations." "On March 4 you say what happened." "The Transport official will testify and the court will decide." "You're free, but above all keep very calm and commit no further offence." "No, now that..." "It's over..." "And don't ruin your studies by another offence..." "I don't have a violent nature but I panicked." "I think I panic easily." " These men do their job." " Nothing against them." "The Transport's property must be preserved and maintained." "An investigator reports to the court on both the personal and professional status of the person arrested." "Let me think..." "Let's say, I've always done business to earn my living." "What business?" "I sell narcotics." "That's much tougher." "Then don't write it." "No, you tell me that like that..." "It's..." "You write it down, then you..." "Right, I won't say anything else." "Because you'll show it to the D.A." "You'll show it to them..." "That's fine!" "Listen, I don't give this to them." "I recopy it." "So this is between us." "If I tell you that..." "I thought it was between us." " It will be." " Good." "If not I'd rather go." "I don't want to nail myself!" "If there's no trust..." "The two of us are here, talking." "Of course, I'm not going to..." "I'm not here either... to cause you more trouble but we're here to look at your case, that's what I'm doing." "If you show that to the D. A..." "In one week" "I've been in 3 times for narcotics." "Why?" "I had a lot." "Luckily I didn't have much money..." "The truth is that here you are telling me this." "It's provocation..." "This is to do with the law, right?" "Yes, but..." "But at the same time you can't tell me you live by selling drugs." "It's no secret, 200 Frs a day for your hotel so you must get money from somewhere..." "For you it's a business." "And prostitution." "And prostitution, right." "And you were..." "Until June you told me you lived in St. Germain-en-Laye at your father's." "What made you leave?" "I wanted to be independent." "Not be dependent on him." "Was it hard to live with him?" "No, not at all not at all but..." "Money, it's all he could give." "That's not what I want in a father." "Did you discuss this?" "No." "He's very undemonstrative and talking was hard once he knew I took drugs." "Can I have a cigarette please?" "You'll have one." "Yes, but now..." "Not for the moment it's the gendarme's orders." "You'll have one when we finish." "All right?" "But he won't let me smoke it!" "You'll have one when you go to the cell." "You'll have one, it won't be long." "Yeah, you give it to me" "I'll put it in my pocket." "If you like I'll pay for it, I've cash in my stuff." "I'm never without money because I'm always cautious more so in a stolen car." "I said to myself:" "I know I'll be caught." "You knew it?" "I thought so because of my driving!" "A 2L really moves along!" "You liked the car?" "Really liked it!" "Of all the cars I've stolen, it's..." "I took pills, excuse me..." "It's one of the best I've stolen" "I did have a great 5GT Turbo..." "It was yours?" "Well I stole it." "I always steal cars." "D'you like stealing cars?" "I mean what does..." "Poweful cars..." "I wouldn't steal a little 104 or R5!" "You feel you're poweful?" "Not at all..." "What goes on in your head when you see a car like that?" "What goes on?" "What goes on is that I like to have fun, to push it!" "Push it... go fast?" "That's it, speed." "I adore speeding." "I'm a good driver." "You've no licence?" "No!" "How did this car strike you?" "What did you like in it?" "The fact that it was..." "A turbo 2L." "Did that..." "Well 220 kmh on the freeway..." "You drove on the freeway?" "Yes I did, I drove on the A15, the A86 and all the innercity boulevard..." "Your name is Lefèvre, Muriel?" "Born Sep. 8, '71 in Evreux?" "That's it." "You still agree to be filmed?" "Yes, is my hair all right?" "It's a documentary." "It's not a film aimed at glorifying...!" "I was joking." "You're here for a theft." "On Jan. 4, '94 you're found starting a car by connecting 2 wires this shows some experience, you need know-how to do that the vehicule had been stolen from Mr. Perrin, Christophe." "I don't know if you committed the first theft, tampered with and had then driven it, had stopped and reentered it, or if someone else committed the first theft, tampered with the wires, the ignition" "and then you got in the car." "What's certain is that a thing can be stolen several times." "You were caught starting up this car..." "I wasn't starting it." "I turned it on to open the back doors to pick up some clothes" "I had put there." "You were already inside." "I'll read this to see if we agree." " I don't deny it." " If you're inside, you got in." "If you got in you can get out." "The need to start up" " doesn't follow..." " It does." "Passersby..." "I'll quote the file." ""Passersby are surprised to see a car, doors open, lights on, wires torn out," ""parked outside a garage entrance..." ""She-that's you - had connected various wires." ""The engine was running..."" "That's what witnesses say." "What can I say?" "The truth." "It'd help me." "I don't know." "I've nothing to say." "The witness is very clear, d'you agree or not?" "Yes, if I started it up it was to open the back doors to get my pants because it's all electric." "Why?" "To start up the engine was the way to open the back doors?" "I can't start it any other way." "One can put it in some gear but with wires it may not be easy." "I don't know..." "I never..." "You didn't intend to drive off?" "I can't drive..." "Yes..." "It didn't..." "It didn't occur to you not to get in the car?" "I was going nearby." "I could have walked." "It's unwise to get in a stolen car." "Sure you can't drive?" "I don't have a licence." "People with no licence do drive!" "I'd like to." "So your name is Muriel Lefèvre?" "That's it." "I'm the lawyer who'll defend you later." " The legal aid lawyer?" " That's right." "I was chosen by the head of the bar association to assist you free of charge." " A state service." " Cool." "I'm a criminal lawyer but sometimes" "I agree to defend people like you." "You have a record... quite full..." "For ordinary thefts..." "Five endorsements." " What's that?" " 5 convictions." "I didn't appear." "Yes, now let's see..." "Do I go to prison?" "Pontoise, narcotics..." "A narcotics case first." "Narcotics in Pontoise..." "Drugs..." "Illegal use of drugs." "Theft, that ring a bell?" "No." "Then Versailles, theft." " Versailles?" " High court, Versailles?" "I never went there..." "Then Nanterre..." " Theft again." " Nanterre, yes." "You didn't turn up anywhere, non-appearances, contradictions." "Suspended sentence each time." "I got lucky." "You did." "You think I'll go to prison?" "Tell me what happened." "Then I go to prison?" "Tell me what happened." "Then I go to prison?" "We'll do all we can so you don't." " You ever been to prison?" " No." " Never?" " No." "Age?" "22." "22 years old." "Born in Evreux?" "Yes." "I'd hang myself rather than go to prison." " Yes?" " Oh yes!" "Tell me about you, then we discuss your file and we'll see about prison." "We'll try to avoid that." "You're 22." "Are your parents alive?" "My father." "Have you been to school?" "Yes, secretarial course." "That's a bad scar..." "Did you break your arm?" "Yes." "What's that?" "A bad blow..." "How d'you do it?" "I fell..." "You fell..." "You have a boyfriend, a fiancé?" "No, I live alone" "I'm a loner." "I'm looking at this procedure... to see if there's any likely nullity..." " What?" " Procedural nullity." "Because if there is..." "I must inform the court, it can wipe out the records." "That's how a case can be dismissed." "That'd be great!" " You'd be released." " That means..." "No, wait a moment..." "You'll get your stuff..." "There's money." "A lot of money?" "No, but enough." "You live in a hotel?" "Yes, 200 Frs a day." "You an addict?" "A little or not at all?" "I smoke." "Smoke, that's all?" "I smoke cocaine." "Ever shoot up?" "Heroine?" "Before, not now." "Are you healthy?" "HIV+..." "HIV+?" "Are you sick?" "No, I'm still HIV+." "I've 1,400 T4... that means I'm like you, as many cells as you." "Once every 6 months is enough." "In January I'm due for another test to see about the T4 because I watch it although I've no permanent home..." "My health is what counts." "I've still got all my teeth!" "I look after my body." "I don't let myself go." "What did you tell the police?" ""I got in this car around 11.45 am." ""An addict picked me up when I was hooking Blvd." "Ney." ""We went rue Simplon to buy dope." ""I lost him." "Not knowing where to go I got my stuff." ""I didn't try to start up the Renault." ""I only tried to open the back door..." ""Once I'd started it I saw" ""that the Neiman wires were torn out..."" "Who said that?" ""I know this guy by sight." ""He calls himself Albert, an addict..."" "Was the custody all right?" "No trouble in the cell, in the precinct?" "Were they nice to you?" "Yes, all right." "Good." "What will you say to the judge later?" "What should I say?" "I don't know, tell me and I'll tell you if it's OK." "I've nothing ready." "I'm not used to this." "How d'you explain this?" "The fact you're here..." "I don't know." "You don't know?" "What did you intend to do with the car?" "Nothing, I can't drive." "I asked him to leave me and go on once I'd..." "You've no licence?" "No, I can't drive." "Why meddle with the Neiman wires?" "Because of the automatic doors you must turn it on to open the back." "Is that true?" "It's a R21 turbo 2L." "I don't understand." "Why not turn round to pick up the things?" "Did you want them?" "Was it your bag?" "You opened the front door?" " How did you open it?" " It was open." "So you sat in the driver's seat?" "You could turn and take your stuff?" "I didn't think of it." "You're allowed to lie." "No one forbids you to lie." "It doesn't matter." "There's no moral criterion here." "You're on trial, prepare your defense as you like but don't say unlikely things it will annoy the judge!" "So what do I say?" "You say the truth." "But I don't want to go to prison!" "Listen you're sure to go to prison if you mock the judges." "They're professionals they're used to people like you, so either say whatever you like and they'll get back at you with a tougher sentence or tell them the truth say Your Honor I'm sorry, I've never been in prison." "I did want to get in this car." "Why try to steal it, I can't drive." "Right..." "So don't you think it's more sensible more believable, a better line of defense than to say:" "Sir I started the car once inside to open the back door." "It won't work!" "It won't work!" "Who's right?" "You or me?" "You, you're used to it." "Here's what you say to the judge." "You say:" "Sir or M'am, I don't know." "It's Mr le Président or Mme le Président." "You say M'am, I think it's a lady..." "So you say Mme le Président" "I'm an addict, a prostitute" "I'm HIV+" "I've never been in prison never Madame le Président never been in prison." "And I was in that car it's true I tampered with the ignition you know I can't even drive." "So I committed a misdemeanor but what was the use there was no sense in my act..." " I couldn't drive the car..." " No." "So Madame le Président" "I did something as stupid as my life is now" "I don't know what I'm doing... but one thing I know I don't want to go to prison..." "If you say that if you say it looking her in the eye with a firm voice, it might succeed in softening them a bit." "All right?" "One thing I ask, don't talk nonsense, or it'll go badly..." "Can you tell me what to say so I really get it?" "No, I won't because you must say it without learning it so it comes from the heart and is the truth." "All right?" "Say who you are, what you did and why you did it." "Why?" "There's no why to it." "I don't have a licence, I couldn't drive it but one thing I want is not to go to prison..." "All right?" "You start off:" "My name is Muriel" "I'm a prostitute, an addict, HIV+, no driver's licence." "I was more or less stealing a car but why?" "What for?" "I've no licence." "I wasn't stealing the car..." "I was trying to start a car but I couldn't steal it as I couldn't drive it." "All right..." "You say that to the judge." "And I'll defend you later." "I'll do my best so you don't go to prison." "We won't see each other?" "We'll see each other, you'll be on the stand." "We can say a few words, but no personal contact." "Anything else to say?" "Can I call anyone?" "...the file..." "Shall I leave it?" "What's your name?" "Your first name?" "When were you born?" "1962." "Your nationality?" "Malian." "Married?" "Children?" "No." "Single?" "Yes." "What work d'you do?" "I work on building sites." "The boss fired me because I'm sick." "What's wrong, are you sick?" "No tell me, I'm not a doctor, I'm listening." "The lung." "Tell me..." "The lung..." "Did you go to hospital or to a private doctor?" " Hospital, yes..." " Hospital." "You've been banned from French territory several times." "A decision by Versailles court, a decision by Bobigny court..." "Judgments on June 20, '91 and August 9, '91." "Despite these bans you're in France." "You're aware of this?" "Yes..." "Tell me why you stay in France?" "Because my passport, it's lost." "Where shall I go?" "You can't return to Mali?" "I want to leave." "The passport..." "I want to try to go to Mali." "If I find it I'll go to the embassy to get the passport" "but I didn't find it yet." "That's it." "So we'll write:" ""I know" ""I am banned" ""from France" ""but" ""I don't have" ""any passport" ""in order to be able" ""to cross borders..." Is that it?" "That's it." "Why not go to your embassy for ID papers to leave?" "But even if I went there" "I'm black..." "I'm Malian." "Now there are many whites..." "I know." "The proof that many come abroad... to eat..." "That's it... the proof... the proof..." "Basically Mali doesn't interest you?" "Why did you leave Mali?" " There's no means..." " That's it." "We've no means." "I've no means." "No work, no money." "No money." "I was arrested all the time..." "arrested..." "I'm sick too..." "I'm tired." "So you see the lawyer chosen by the bar association to help you." "You explain to him that in Mali you've no future." "There's no work, no money." "You're sick and you stayed in France." "And you have no ID papers, no passport so you can't cross borders, from what you tell me." "I've written it down..." "You look at it and sign." "I sign..." "Yes, here..." "That's what I've written." "I sign..." "You will appear in court and there you will explain why you're in France, why you want to stay." "For reasons both medical and economic." "Thank you sir." "Your nationality?" "Algerian." "Are you married, single?" "Married, 3 children." "Married." "How old are the children?" "The eldest girl is 8." "The second is two and the third is one and a half." "Your occupation?" "I've two." "Cook and house painter." "Self-employed or you work..." "I work all over..." " Illegally?" " Yes." "The policemen say you stole a wallet." "Two of you..." "They followed you, saw you." "They watched you..." "One of you stole the wallet which contained money." "So what did you do?" "He gave it to me, I put it in my pocket." "There were two of you." "You followed..." "Was he a tourist?" "No, a Chinese." "Yes that's it." "We didn't follow him." "He was in the cafe, we went in." "Your buddy took the wallet and gave it to you?" "Then you were arrested?" "Why did you commit this theft?" "I'm not a thief." "It's the first time I did it, I've no money..." "Three kids to feed." "Have to..." "Nothing coming in." "The rent, I owe lots of money too." "How much d'you earn per month?" "I'm not working." "Almost 8 months with no work." "So let's write: "I admit" ""the theft..." ""My friend" ""took" ""the wallet" ""and he gave it to me."" "Then you were arrested?" "Yes." "You chose the man by chance?" "Why choose him?" "No, by chance by chance." "We saw him in the cafe." "You'll see a lawyer chosen by the bar..." "He's a legal aid lawyer, he'll defend you because you'll be tried in court." "Any convictions?" "Never." "So sign here." " Read it." "It's what you said." " I can't read..." "That's it and now sign here." "They'll give you the file for the lawyer and then you go to court to be tried." "Adaptation:" "Anne Head" " Ripped by: rucunus"