Twenty-one months after causing a serious road accident while under the influence of drugs, Pierre Palmade is back in court

On Wednesday November 20, the 56-year-old actor and comedian appeared before the Criminal Court of Melun (Seine-et-Marne) to answer charges of “involuntary injury”. He faces up to 14 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 200,000 euros.

Pierre Palmade on trial: a tragedy, a responsibility

On November 20, 2024, 56-year-old comedian Pierre Palmade appeared before the Criminal Court in Melun, Seine-et-Marne, on a charge of “involuntary injury”. This road accident, which occurred on February 10 2023, had a profound effect on the lives of both the victims and the comedian.

A tragic accident under the influence of drugs

On February 10, 2023, at around 6:45 p.m., Pierre Palmade was driving under the influence of cocaine and other substances when he collided head-on with a Renault Mégane in Villiers-en-Bière. Aboard the vehicle were three members of the same family: 38-year-old Yuksel Yakut, his six-year-old son, and his 27-year-old sister-in-law, who was six months pregnant and lost her baby as a result of the impact.

The impact was violent and life-threatening for all three occupants. The following day, an investigation was opened for “manslaughter and manslaughter”. Blood tests revealed that the comedian had taken drugs, but not alcohol.

Consequences for the victims

The impact of the accident was devastating for the victims. Yuksel Yakut, seriously injured, had to undergo several operations and lives with chronic pain. His son, who witnessed the scene, suffers from severe psychological problems, repeating his school year and having panic attacks. It’s a real ordeal for the family.

A complex legal procedure

Initially, Pierre Palmade was charged with “involuntary manslaughter” and “involuntary bodily harm” for the death of the foetus. However, an expert medical report concluded that the baby had died before birth, which, according to current jurisprudence, ruled out manslaughter.

As a result, the actor was sent back to court for “involuntary injury”, with aggravating circumstances relating to drug use and breach of a duty of care.

Penalties and the stakes of the trial

Pierre Palmade faces up to 14 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 200,000 euros for recidivism, having already been convicted in 2019 for drug acquisition. Had he been convicted of manslaughter, he would have faced 20 years’ imprisonment. The victims’ defense deplores this decision, arguing that the loss of the fetus should be taken into account more severely.

The impact on Pierre Palmade’s life

Although Pierre Palmade has expressed his shame and regret for the victims, his trial is not limited to the simple question of whether or not he was right. The comedian is currently under judicial supervision, banned from leaving the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, from driving and from contacting victims. He is being monitored for his addictions and has been undergoing psychotherapy since September 2023.

A possible conviction and the hope of the victims

The victims, still seeking recognition and justice, hope that the court will offer them a “just sentence”. Although Pierre Palmade is facing a prison sentence, it is unlikely that he will be incarcerated immediately, unless he is sentenced to more than one year’s imprisonment. The comedian could then be placed under house arrest or given a suspended sentence, depending on his medical follow-up.