Macron's ex-bodyguard goes on trial over May Day assaults

Alexandre Benalla, a former security advisor of French President Emmanuel Macron, arrives with his lawyer Jacqueline Laffont on the first day of his trial for violence committed against demonstrators at a May Day protest in 2018, at the courthouse in Paris, France, September 13, 2021. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

PARIS (Reuters) - A former security advisor of French President Emmanuel Macron arrived at a Paris court on Monday to go on trial accused of roughing up May Day protesters in 2018, in what triggered the first major political crisis of Macron's mandate.

Macron and his Elysee palace team were sharply criticised at the time for not sacking Alexandre Benalla immediately. He was fired when a video of the incident emerged six weeks later.