Killers of Los Pumas star Aramburu sentenced in France

The two men convicted over the killing of former Argentina international Federico Martín Aramburu have been sentenced by a court in Paris.

Loïk Le Priol, 32, was jailed for 26 years after being found guilty of murdering Aramburu, while Romain Bouvier, 35, received a 19-year prison sentence after being convicted of attempted murder.

Aramburu, who won 22 caps for Argentina and spent much of his club career in France with Biarritz, was shot dead in Paris in March 2022 after an altercation outside a bar in the city’s Saint-Germain district. He was 42.

French prosecutors had sought sentences of 27 and 20 years respectively for Le Priol and Bouvier. The court stopped short of those requests, but rejected arguments centred on self-defence and psychological impairment.

According to the court, Le Priol was responsible for the fatal shots that killed Aramburu following a confrontation that began inside a Paris bar before continuing on the street. The court described the pair, who fired 10 shots in total at Aramburu, as being united by a fascination with weapons and violence.

Before the verdict was delivered, Le Priol addressed Aramburu’s family and asked for forgiveness, saying he hoped they would one day find the strength to forgive him.

“I am a Christian, just like you… The pope is in Paris today,” said Le Priol. “I don’t know if it’s a sign, but I hope that one day they will find the strength to forgive me, and that I, too, will find the strength to forgive myself.”

The trial also heard from Shaun Hegarty, a former New Zealand rugby player and ex-teammate of Aramburu, who was present on the night of the shooting. Hegarty rejected the defendants’ claims and accused them of trying to avoid responsibility for their actions.

The case has been closely followed in both France and Argentina. Members of Los Pumas publicly backed calls for justice during the trial.

Le Priol and Bouvier have 10 days to appeal the verdict.