The family of a New Caledonian man shot dead by police has lodged a complaint for voluntary homicide.
William Decoire, a 23-year-old prison escapee, died after being shot when he tried to run a road block in a stolen vehicle near Noumea in October.
The shooting caused an uproar in his nearby St Louis community, triggering three days of clashes and road blocks during which five police officers received gunshot wounds and dozens of stolen cars were burnt.
According to the local newspaper, the victim's mother is taking action after police claimed that they shot her son in self-defence.
Five witnesses have been questioned over the incident but they don't all confirm the police explanation.
The family's lawyer said there was an inconsistency in the way matters are being dealt with because probes had been opened into the alleged attempts to murder police officers but not into the fatal shooting of Mr Decoire.
There is renewed concern that the justice system treats Kanaks unfairly after the death of William Decoire Photo: AFP