Veronique Monguillot, the wife of Philippe Monguillot, the French bus driver who was beaten to death by four passengers because he asked them to wear masks, requested the government to take “exemplary action” on the perpetrators who were responsible for her husband’s death. The four men were detained and charged following the assault. “We must bang a fist on the table, so this never happens again,” she said. “It’s barbaric, not normal. We must stop this massacre.”
Philippe, 59, had been left brain dead after he was barbarically thrashed by four passengers who had been asked to wear masks by him. He had been admitted to the hospital in France’s south-western city of Bayonne after sustaining life-threatening injuries. His family pulled the plug on his life support on Friday, saying they couldn’t bear to see him suffer.
This assault caused nationwide marches in support of Monguillot and his family in France, and several people marched along with Veronique and her two daughters, fully clad in white.
French Prime Minister Castex confirmed Monguillot’s death on Twitter, writing that the case had “touched our hearts.” “The Republic recognizes him as an exemplary citizen and won’t forget him. The law will punish the perpetrators of this despicable crime,” he wrote, describing the attack as “cowardly.”
Le décès de Philippe Monguillot, lâchement agressé dimanche à Bayonne pour avoir accompli son travail, nous touche en plein cœur. La République reconnaît en lui un citoyen exemplaire et ne l'oubliera pas. La Justice punira les auteurs de ce crime abject.
— Jean Castex (@JeanCASTEX) July 10, 2020
Monguillot worked for, Keoilis, paid their respects to him, by observing a minute of silence in their offices and transport networks. Additionally, the company has also boosted security for its employees, deploying guards on some of its bus services in the area.