Aurélien B., 29, Pierre P., 37, and Philippe T. face charges of intentional violence committed in a group and of forging an official report after they tried to cover up their actions. They risk up to 15 years in prison. The trial opened at the Paris criminal court.
In their arrest report, the officers claimed Zecler had hit them and tried to seize a truncheon. Footage released several days later by the French media website Loopsider contradicted that account.
The officers pushed Zecler into the entrance of his office and beat him there, according to the investigation and footage from the studio cameras.
The officers denied the allegation, and the alleged racism was not included in the indictment.
The images sparked nationwide outrage and renewed scrutiny of police violence and racism in France.
For about five minutes he sustained roughly 30 punches and truncheon blows to the face and body, the investigation found.
A medical report noted craniofacial trauma, wounds to the lip and scalp, and a complete rupture of his biceps tendon. He was unable to do his job for 45 days.
Zecler said the officers used a racist slur against him. France’s human rights ombudswoman has said police used “racist insults” during the assault, according to four witnesses. Zecler has a titanium anchor in his left arm after the ruptured tendon and says he still suffers nightmares. “I don’t understand the hatred I saw in their eyes,” he said.