Death of Christophe Dominici: his district of Boulogne-Billancourt in shock

The day after Christophe Dominici’s death, the investigation continues with the hearing of witnesses, some of whom were questioned on Wednesday, and others called tomorrow. This is particularly the case of the cyclist who would have seen the rugby player fall into the void, from the parapet bordering the avenue de la Grille-d’Honneur giving access to the park of Saint-Cloud.

The hearing of this key witness, crossed with the conclusions of the autopsy, expected this weekend, should make it possible to confirm or not the suicide thesis. That of the accident cannot be ruled out.

In the Gallieni district, in Boulogne-Billancourt, where the former sportsman lived, it was time for emotion this Wednesday. Especially among traders where the former tricolor and player of the French Stadium had his habits. “It was a shock, I didn’t sleep all night, I thought of his wife and daughters,” says Amar, Italian restaurateur. “I even dreamed of it at night,” sighs Richard, a coffee maker located not far away.

“He was a nice boy”

“Everyone is shocked and sad in the neighborhood. This affects us because he is a neighbor but not only, all of France is affected, ”said Amar, who had known the deceased for 20 years. “We talked about everything, sports, business… He was a nice boy. Who can expect such things? “

“He used to go to our place, to the tobacco shop, to the butcher, to the restaurants next door … He lived in the neighborhood and did his shopping there”, adds Mehdi, the florist, who also rubbed shoulders with the former rugby player. For more than 20 years. The latter bought him in particular fleur-de-lis – one of the emblems of the Stade Français – and roses, “big bouquets”. On Monday again, the businessman and media consultant came to his workshop to collect two pots of flowers.

“It wasn’t business as usual. Already in his way of walking, his head bowed in his thoughts. In normal times, we discussed, we laughed. There, no, it was closed, he obviously did not want to speak. I knew he was modest, I left him alone. I thought he was ill, ”says the craftsman, who is therefore not surprised by the hypothesis of suicide.

“Tuesday morning, he didn’t look well”

“He was less talkative than usual, confirms, moved, Émilie, the baker who served Christophe Dominici and his wife on Sunday. It shocked me. Especially for children, who are about the same age as mine… ”

“I served it yesterday (Editor’s note: Tuesday) morning, precisely. He didn’t look good. He bought a lighter, paid with his card, without a word, nor a smile as usual. My salesperson found it just as closed last week, ”says Richard.

An unusual behavior for a man who will be remembered as a “nice”, “kind”, “discreet”, “simple” and “affordable” resident. “With his accent that smelled of the South”, completes the cafetier.

“He was part of the life of the neighborhood. He was such an endearing man… What I liked about him was his frankness, he was direct, ”says Didier, a butcher who shared with Christophe Dominici the passion for rugby and the attachment to the Stade Français.

“That’s how we hit it off when I moved here nine years ago. We talked a lot about rugby but also about wine because his in-laws produced it. He was very approachable. We saw him regularly in the neighborhood even if we saw him less in recent months. He was often on the move. “

Like his neighbors, the butcher had also found him “thoughtful” last week, when he saw him pass in the street. “I think the failure of the buyout of the Béziers club hurt him. We knew he was impulsive and fragile, but I never would have thought of that. It’s sad for his wife and daughter. “