📣 Documenting & Challenging EU Border Violence

Thurs 9 Oct 2025, 1pm
MUSSI Seminar Room (+ online)
@mu-ssi.bsky.social

with
Charles Heller @borderforensics.bsky.social
Niamh Keady-Tabbal @maynoothlaw.bsky.social
Hanaa Hakiki @ecchr.bsky.social

Register: www.maynoothuniversity.ie/news-events/...

The result of our analysis challenges the prosecutor’s claim that Nzoy ran at the officer with a knife. His hands were open and empty when he was first shot. This exposes bias in official narratives of lethal policing and support the demand for #justice4nzoy.

borderforensics.org/investigations/nzoy

The frame-by-frame motion shows his left hand outstretched across his body and his right hand with visible finger articulation. Both moved naturally as open palms. This is bio-mechanically inconsistent with gripping a knife.

By cross-referencing a #3D model of the scene with the camera’s perspective and optics, we measured the distance to Nzoy’s hands. The pixel data gave us a precise dimensions: 19.7 cm. Our results matched Nzoy's autopsy records.

From four extracted frames, we studied the size, shape, and motion of #Nzoy’s hands – open vs closed. The police investigation ignored this sequence, despite the witness who filmed it testifying that Nzoy held nothing.

Our investigation uses a 67-millisecond video sequence – the only footage showing both of Nzoy’s hands. Its high resolution enabled a precise forensic analysis.

See full thread 👉

Four years ago today, on 30 August 2021, #Nzoy was fatally shot by police at #Morges station, #Switzerland. The Police claimed he attacked officers with a knife. Our new investigation shows his hands were open and empty before the first shot was fired – exposing the regime of police impunity.

Structural racism and impunity for police-related deaths have allowed these to be perpetuated. Only a day ago, early morning on Sunday 25.08.25, a 17-year-old Black teenager died during a police chase in #Lausanne.

Our thoughts are with families of #policeviolence victims. #Justice4Nzoy #Marvin

Our analysis further locates Nzoy's killing in relation to other police-related deaths in Switzerland. In our press conference this morning, we presented our findings, including the archiveofabsence.borderforensics.org: A database of documented police-related deaths in Switzerland between 1992-2025.

Our video analysis combined with 3D-reconstruction demonstrate that Nzoy's hands were open just before the first two shots were fired at him. Contrary to the police's claims, it was thus highly unlikely that he was holding a knife at that moment.

At the family’s request, #BF has conducted an investigation over the last 2 years, in collaboration with the Independent Commission.

Our research presents new evidence and links Nzoy's killing to other cases of police-related deaths in Switzerland.

www.borderforensics.org/investigatio...

Today, #BF launches a new investigation on the death of Roger Nzoy Wilhelm, a Black Swiss man. He was shot and killed by the police in August 2021, in Switzerland.

The legal process that has been ongoing for the last four years has not answered the demands for truth and justice of Nzoy’s family.

Today, BF launches its new investigation on the killing of Nzoy.
Roger Nzoy Wilhelm was shot dead by the police on 30 August 2021.

Until today, light has yet to be shed on the exact circumstances that led to Nzoy’s death.

Find our investigation here: www.borderforensics.org/investigatio...

🔴SAVE THE DATE🔴

Monday, 11am, Lausanne, CH

#BF together with the Independent Commission on the death of Roger #Nzoy Wilhelm will launch their new investigation on the circumstances of #Nzoy's death.

Join us and sign up for the #PressConference here: forms.office.com/e/0Gfv0rtaK9...

The demand for truth and justice of the survivors of the 24 June 2022 massacre. Watch here:
vimeo.com/955919956/af...

Today, we are in thoughts with the survivors of the massacre and the families of the deceased and disappeared.

We reiterate our demand for accountability. We continue to support and amplify their demands for truth and justice.

One year ago, Border Forensics published it’s damning investigation in collaboration with centreiridia.bsky.social, #AMDH and with the legal advice of @ecchr.bsky.social

Find the full investigation in AR, EN, ES, FR here 👉 www.borderforensics.org/investigatio...

Today, we commemorate the victims of the 24 June 2022 #Nador-Melilla racist border massacre. Three years have passed, nobody is held accountable for 27 recorded deaths and 70 disappeared. The deceased and disappeared have not been identified, and many survivors remain incarcerated in Moroccan jails.

Meet the #BorderForensics' team of 2025. This weekend we came together in the General Assembly 2025 to discuss recent and upcoming projects, focus, ambition and challenges and new pathways for our work.

#BF's network of thinkers and makers has become an inspiring and daring community. Stay tuned