A Paris court has questioned defendants accused of involvement in the migrant-smuggling operation connected to the deadliest known Channel crossing, which claimed the lives of 31 people in November 2021.
The Paris Criminal Court is hearing evidence against 14 defendants, two of whom are being tried in absentia. The accused face charges including involuntary homicide, involuntary injury and assisting the irregular entry, movement or stay of foreign nationals as part of an organised group.
The trial entered its second week on Friday, with judges pressing defendants to explain their alleged roles in the network that organised crossings from northern France to Britain.
One defendant, a 36-year-old Iraqi Kurdish man, repeatedly interrupted the presiding judge while answering questions about his involvement. The judge eventually raised her voice and told him that he was not in court to direct the proceedings or speak on behalf of the victims and their families.
The man had initially travelled to northern France after leaving his hometown following a dispute with his wife. He hoped to reach Britain but said travelling by lorry was beyond his means, costing around $7,000, while a sea crossing was offered for about $1,500.
He said he made four unsuccessful attempts to cross the Channel. During one attempt, according to his account, a police officer intercepted the boat near the shore and damaged it with a knife.
At some point, prosecutors allege, he became involved with the smuggling network himself.
The presiding judge told him that a relative of one of the victims had identified him as someone responsible for putting migrants onto boats. She also referred to allegations that he contacted victims’ families after the sinking and urged them not to pursue legal action.
The court heard that he had also been described as the right-hand man of the alleged leader of the smuggling operation.
Another defendant, a 33-year-old Afghan man, told the court on Friday that he had wanted to reach Britain but did not have enough money to pay for the journey. He said he began performing tasks for the network in exchange for a place on a boat.
His duties allegedly included taking migrants to Calais, collecting money and delivering food. He told the court that he was effectively working to cover the cost of his own crossing.
The case has attracted 113 civil plaintiffs, most of them relatives of those who died. Nine family members travelled from Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan to attend the hearings and give evidence earlier this week.
The tragedy occurred late on Nov. 23, 2021, when 33 migrants boarded an inflatable boat from the coast near Calais. The vessel had a defective motor and was reportedly carrying life-jackets that did not meet safety requirements for the conditions at sea.
The small boat, measuring roughly 20 feet by 7 feet, was bound for the United Kingdom. Passengers had paid thousands of dollars for their places.
About three hours into the journey, the boat began taking on water. Those aboard contacted French and British rescue services for help, but no rescue team reached them before the vessel sank.
A separate investigation is examining whether French military personnel failed to respond appropriately after the migrants raised the alarm.
At around 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 24, large waves hit the boat and its engine stopped working before the vessel sank.
Only two people, Mohamad I. and Ahmad S., survived the disaster. They told the court earlier in the week that several passengers attempted to remain afloat by holding onto pieces of debris, but strong currents made survival difficult, particularly for those who could not swim.
Mohamad described spending hours in the freezing water and seeing women and children lying motionless as daylight approached.
Approximately 12 hours after the first distress calls, a fishing vessel eventually discovered bodies in the water.
The trial is scheduled to continue until Sept. 30 as the court examines the roles allegedly played by the defendants and the wider organization behind the fatal crossing.
The proceedings are also drawing attention to the dangers faced by migrants attempting to reach Britain by sea and the criminal networks that profit from organizing increasingly risky Channel journeys.