Two Men Jailed for Fatal Shooting of Argentine Rugby Star

Two men with ties to a now-dissolved far-right extremist group have been sentenced in Paris for the 2022 murder of Federico Martin Aramburu, a former international rugby player for Argentina.

Loik Le Priol, 32, a former soldier, was sentenced to 26 years in prison for firing the fatal shots. Romain Bouvier, 35, who initiated the gunfire, received a 19-year sentence. Both men were linked to the far-right group at the time of the incident.

Aramburu, 42, was killed in a drive-by shooting in March 2022 following an altercation outside a bar near Boulevard Saint-Germain. CCTV footage showed Aramburu and a former teammate, Shaun Hegarty, at a bar opposite Le Priol and Bouvier. An argument escalated, and as Aramburu and Hegarty left, Le Priol and Bouvier pursued them in a vehicle and opened fire. Aramburu died at the scene.

During the trial's conclusion on Friday, Le Priol apologized to Aramburu's family, stating, "I'm Christian like you... I don't know if it's a sign... [I] hope one day you can find the strength to forgive me." The defense had cited post-traumatic stress disorder for Le Priol and childhood trauma for Bouvier.

The presiding judge described Le Priol as "animated by the will to kill" and noted that his "narcissistic, intrusive and uncontrollable rage ultimately led to the gratuitous killing of Mr. Aramburu."

Aramburu's widow, Maria, expressed her hope for a verdict that would enable her and their three children to "build their lives as adults."

Aramburu represented Argentina 22 times, participating in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, where he scored a try against the host nation. He played for French clubs Perpignan, Biarritz, and Dax before joining the Glasgow Warriors in 2010.

Le Priol was apprehended in Hungary while attempting to cross into Ukraine, telling Hungarian authorities he was going to fight. He was subsequently extradited to France to face charges.