Law Breakers 1971

Death of the former prisoner in Provence

In Provence just before Christmas, a former prisoner suspected of robbery is dragged from his home by two policemen, taken to the police station, and beaten to death. The police narrative insists it was a heart attack, while family and observers suspect foul play. The brutal death triggers the investigation that frames the entire timeline.

Widow files a charge and investigation begins

The widow files a charge and the case is allocated to magistrate Bernard Level for judicial investigation. Level begins to chart the inquiry, reviewing the initial testimonies and considering avenues to uncover the truth. The case shifts from accusations to a formal legal process.

Initial denials by police

Two policemen and the inspector on duty deny any wrongdoing, claiming the death was an accident or a heart attack. Others in the station, including a second officer and two men in custody, echo the same line under pressure. Level faces a wall of denial as he tries to separate truth from convenient lies.

Autopsy confirms explicit cause of death

An autopsy is performed and its findings are explicit, contradicting the police accounts. Level understands that he must break false testimony or locate independent witnesses to secure a prosecution. The medical verdict sharpens the conflict between official narratives and the truth.

First potential witness obstructed

Level uncovers a prostitute who was in custody and could corroborate what happened, but she is whisked out of town by the police to prevent her testimony. He fights to preserve her potential statement, illustrating the extent of the cover-up. Her absence leaves a critical gap that Level must try to close.

Second witness exposed: the bartender

A bartender who served the dead man on his last journey home comes forward with observations of the victim's condition and movements. His testimony could challenge the narrative of an accident. The disclosure adds a tangible line of inquiry for Level.

Prosecution recommended by Level

Based on the new testimonies, Level recommends prosecuting the two policemen and the inspector for complicity in the cover-up. He faces institutional resistance as he pushes the case toward court. The recommendation sets him on a collision course with the local authorities.

Courtroom intimidation and pressure

As the case reaches court, witnesses and the widow's counsel are intimidated into silence, and Level himself comes under intense pressure. The courtroom atmosphere tightens as truth-telling becomes harder under threats. The defense maintains the expected line that absolves the accused.

Personal attacks intensify

Level learns that his son has marijuana planted on him, a tactic to undermine his family. His girlfriend, an Italian antiques dealer, becomes entangled in a stolen object and faces deportation. The personal attacks reveal how far the pressure goes to protect the guilty.

Trial verdict: acquittal

Despite the presiding judge's efforts to elicit truth, the trial ends with the three guilty men acquitted. The verdict confirms the power of intimidation over justice. Level realizes that the system will not deliver accountability in this case.

Level rethinks his future

Following the acquittal, Level must rethink his future as a magistrate and consider leaving the force. He is left with a sense of professional and moral crisis about whether truth and justice can prevail. The case leaves him contemplating a different path in life.