French police officers face trial over beating of black man not wearing mask during Covid

Assault on Michel Zecler in 2020 is rare case of police brutality reaching court, at time of heightened tensions

Three French police officers are to go on trial over the beating of a black music producer who they say was not wearing a face mask during the Covid pandemic, in a rare case of police brutality reaching court.

The assault on Michel Zecler, now 47, triggered outrage in France over police violence, which victims and researchers say is systemic but authorities and law enforcement unions claim is limited to isolated cases.