Montroc Avalanche, Suspended Sentence for Mayor

The state criminal court sitting Bonneville has sentenced the Mayor of Chamonix, Michel Charlet to a three month suspended prison sentence for his part in the handling of events immediately prior to the Montroc (le Tour) avalanche in February 1999. 

Later this year Mr Charlet will be in the dock again for his role in the Mont Blanc Tunnel fire disaster, also in the winter of 1999.  If found guilty in this second trial Mr Charlet would run the risk of a spell behind bars.  However Mr Charlet will benefit from a Presidential amnesty dating from the 6th August 2002 which states that any suspended sentence of less than 6 months will not be activated.

Mr Charlet was criticised by the judge for not using his police powers to evacuate houses at risk from avalanches.  The court stated that “the sole responsibility for evacuating a site at serious risk from avalanches rests with the Mayor”.  In his defence the Mayor stated that evacuating all the houses at risk during February 1999 was not practical.  Jean-Claude Bourdais, representing the families of those who died was satisfied with the verdict which reminds Mayors “that they have priorities other than organising festivals, flowers and majorettes.  Things have to change so that our children didn’t die in vain, the decision will help us grieve.”

This verdict opens the door to a compensation payment for the families of victims.  In a show of local solidarity only the families of tourists are seeking compensation.

The Mayor will decide whether he appeals next week but has a difficult choice between “taking into account the pain and suffering of the families or letting the decision rest and becoming case law”.  He also runs the risk of a longer sentence.