French boxing champion Christophe Dettinger given one-year sentence for punching riot police in Paris ‘yellow vest’ protest
- Christophe Dettinger was caught on camera throwing a flurry of punches at an officer
- Some among the protesters hailed Dettinger as a hero for the incident
Christophe Dettinger, a former national light-heavyweight champion, was caught on camera on January 5 throwing a flurry of punches at an officer during clashes on a footbridge over the river Seine in Paris.
Dettinger, 37, has been in custody since turning himself in after the attack.
He appeared before a packed courtroom Wednesday looking tired, with a thin moustache and his hair cut short.
Ignoring prosecution calls for a significantly heavier sentence, the judge gave Dettinger open-prison terms which would allow him to work during the day.
Footage of the incident, which has been played repeatedly on TV and social media, was shown again in court with Dettinger, who is nearly two metres tall, seen punching one policeman then kicking another on the ground.