The fatal shooting of a thief by a jeweller in France's Champagne region has reignited a national debate on vigilante justice, as locals mount protests over the shooter's detention on suspicion of murder.
The unnamed 36-year-old robber allegedly died after a fight for control of the jeweller's gun ended in the gem merchant shooting him four times at his boutique in the town of Sézanne, some 80km south of Reims.
The death is the latest to fuel controversy over the right of victims to resist robberies, amid rising attacks on jewellers and precious metals vendors. It follows a similar killing in Nice in September which led to a massive online campaign supporting the shooter's decision to open fire, even though the assailant was then making his getaway.
Around 200 locals demonstrated in support of the unnamed jeweller, who is being held for a further 24 hours on suspicion of murder while police decide whether they believe he acted in self "legitimate self defence".
Christian de Rocquigny, the prosecutor of Châlons-en-champagne, said that he "doubted" he would be incarcerated for the length of the investigation.
This report by Henry Samuel writing for the Telegraph from Paris( I like his well studied reports)
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