Two men are facing a court in
south-west France accused of beating a bus driver to death after they allegedly
refused to wear face masks.
The defendants, now aged 24
and 25, are accused of "dealing mortal blows" during the incident in
the city of Bayonne in July 2020.
Philippe Monguillot, aged
59, died in hospital five days after the assault.
The two accused, Wyssem
Manai and Maxime Guyennon, could face a 20-year prison sentence if convicted.
Prosecutors say Mr. Monguillot was set upon after asking three men on his bus to show their tickets
and adjust the face masks they were wearing over their chins.
The incident occurred after
the end of France's first Covid lockdown when masks were mandatory on all
public transport.
In an ensuing
confrontation, Mr Monguillot was kicked and punched and his head hit the
pavement as he fell.
The city's mayor condemned
it as a "barbaric act".
Mr Monguillot's death
caused shock across France and thousands of people took part in a protest march
led by his widow in Bayonne.
The trial opened on Friday
at a court in Pau, 112km (70 miles) east of Bayonne.
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