It became clear after some time that it was the re-enactment of a crime, with witnesses directing two young policemen who were playing the roles of those involved in the case.
"It happened down here" - (prisoner in white trousers with police body-armour):
It seemed one guy had gone down in a fight:
Later another witness adds a new dimension - the other guy is now down :
It was only when I looked at the photos on the computer that I realised that this was more than just an ordinary fight. It was like Antonioni's "Blow-up" or that scene in "Blade Runner" when Dekard examines a photo in detail on his computer. Note the the right hand of the policeman in white body-armour :
Again it was only on the computer that I saw the telling detail and realised that it wasn't just a punch-up - did somebody get killed across the road from us one night ?
Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.
It could be that the prisoner is about to lose a big chunk of his life. Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.
If there had been cctv there might have been no need for this expensive re-enactment - there were lawyers and about a dozen policemen there for more than two hours. Who knows, if the police had been alerted when the fight started, maybe a life might have been saved. Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.
I mean, this might not have been a casual fight but a gang thing?
Yes, I thought about the possible reprisals aspect. Unfortunately we've come to realise this isn't a very nice area (pardon the pun). A cafe opened across the road after we moved in and tends to attract young guys who drink till late and I've witnessed a few drunken scuffles.
The body-armour has made me less likely to repeat what I did the other week, when a group were talking loudly round a car with door open and loud music. I was so annoyed I went onto the balcony and yelled - very loudly (in French) "Hey - there are children asleep - think of other people." Had it been the UK I'd probably have got jeers and more noise for a long time. To my surprise, they look startled, said nothing, and very soon went away.
Now I understand why I've almost never seen a neighbour look out of a window, let alone shout at them :-) Maybe I was lucky to get away with it - and the guys were just so surprised at the unusual intervention. Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.
I was in a pub in Kilburn (an area of London with a lot of Irish) some years ago, standing at the door on a warm evening. Three guys came out of the pub and suddenly vans erupted police with guns and pushed one of the guys against the wall - several guns pointed at his back. I had my camera with me, but thought it wiser not to point anything at police with guns in their hands. It would have made a great photo, especially as there was a poster just above the guy against the wall - for an Irish bank ! :-) Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.
Kilburn pubs I remember from years back, and they didn't have a safe sort of feel... You were no doubt very wise not to take pictures, you might have found yourself up against (the wall and) some mean and possibly Special Branch coppers.
As I remember it, the cops were very psyched up - now one thinks of the case of the young Brazilian shot on suspicion in the tube in London. This was the time of the conflict in Northern Ireland - and with any sudden movement one of them might have shot first and asked what I had in my hands afterwards - especially as it was a SLR - not the friendly little Lumix :-) Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner - that I moved to Nice.
