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Men stand trial for French bus driver's death over face masks

Two men aged aged 24 and 25 are on trial for assaulting and causing the death of a bus driver in the town of Bayonne, south-west France, during the Covid epidemic in July 2020, after he asked them to wear their face masks. 

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Two men are facing a court in south-west France accused of beating a bus driver to death after they allegedly refused to wear face-masks, reports BBC News.

The defendants, now aged 24 and 25, are accused of "dealing mortal blows" during the incident in the city of Bayonne in July 2020.

Philippe Monguillot, aged 59, died in hospital five days after the assault.

The two accused, Wyssem Manai and Maxime Guyennon, could face a 20-year prison sentence if convicted.

Prosecutors say Mr Monguillot was set upon after asking three men on his bus to show their tickets and adjust face-masks they were wearing over their chin.

The incident occurred after the end of France's first Covid lockdown, when masks were mandatory on all public transport.

Read more of this report from BBC News.