A boar hunt turned tragic on Sunday evening, September 4, on the Cacaotier hunting ground in Sebastopol. Louis Simon Houston Sophie, a 24-year-old woodcutter and resident of Bambous, was killed when a bullet accidentally went off from the rifle in his uncle’s hand. The uncle, Louis Jimmy John Sophie, a 47-year-old driver, was arrested. He was brought before the court in Flacq on Monday 5 September where he is facing a provisional charge of murder. He was kept in a police cell.
Shortly after 9pm on the evening of Sunday 4 September, a team of police officers from the Montagne Blanche police station went to the Hôpital du Nord following a request from the hospital’s police station. Houston Sophie, died shortly after being taken to the hospital by three of his relatives, Pierre Yves Cangy, 65 years old of Saint Antoine Petit Village, Clarel Eric Charles, a 49-year-old welder and resident of Quartier-Militaire and Jimmy Sophie.
They explained that the victim was injured when a bullet accidentally went off from the rifle held by Jimmy Sophie. The victim fell with the gun in his hand, at which point the gun went off and a bullet hit Sophie. The young man, who was bleeding profusely, was rushed to the North Hospital where the doctor on duty could only pronounce him dead.
Jimmy Sophie was questioned at length by men from the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) before being taken into custody. He was charged with murder. Early on Monday morning, 5 September, forensic technicians went to the crime scene to collect evidence. The police photographer and draughtsman had also come to the hunt to take pictures and plans at the location.
Jimmy Sophie is a licensed gun owner. He had the permission of the owner of this hunt to go to this place where he often went.
