Two French streamers received suspended prison sentences on August 5, 2025, from the Nice criminal court following the death of 46-year-old Raphael Graven, known online as Jean Pormanove, after streamed abuse on the platform Kick that sparked international regulatory investigations.
Nice Criminal Court Sentences Streamers Over Livestream Abuse
The Nice criminal court delivered its verdict on August 5, 2025, finding two content creators guilty of inflicting violence and directing insults at Raphael Graven, who broadcast under the pseudonym Jean Pormanove during streams on the Kick platform. The court convicted Safine Hamadi and Owen Cenazandotti of group violence and incitement to hatred following broadcasts. Prosecutors stated that Graven had netted approximately €265,000 from his streaming activities between 2021 and 2025 before his death in August 2025.
Hamadi received an 18-month suspended prison sentence and an order to pay a €5,000 fine, while Cenazandotti received a two-year suspended prison sentence alongside a €15,000 fine according to court records from Nice. Both men were subjected to a six-month digital ban prohibiting them from posting on social networks during the probationary period. The prosecution had initially sought harsher penalties, including a 30-month sentence with one year served at home under electronic monitoring and a €30,000 fine for Cenazandotti alongside probation terms for Hamadi. Prosecutor Maud Marty distinguished between the defendants based on their post-arrest conduct, noting that Hamadi expressed remorse while Cenazandotti claimed the proceedings were part of a media-judicial conspiracy against him.
“The conviction is mainly symbolic. We are satisfied with the ruling,”
Tom Michel, Hamadi’s lawyer
“My client acknowledged responsibility and that part of the content they aired was not acceptable and could not be consented to or scripted.”
Tom Michel, Hamadi’s lawyer
Autopsy Findings and the Limits of Manslaughter Charges
Graven passed away on August 18, 2025, in his sleep near Nice CBC during a broadcast that had been running for more than 298 hours continuously. Because the defendants were not accused of causing his death, the Nice tribunal did not charge them with manslaughter or homicide. Damien Martinelli, the prosecutor in the southern French city, announced that an autopsy carried out confirmed the death was not caused by trauma and was “not related” to the intervention of another person. Investigators also ordered supplemental medical and toxicological analyses to determine contributing health factors.
During the legal proceedings, the defense argued that the physical confrontations and degrading stunts broadcast on camera were coordinated performances. The court ultimately acquitted the defendants of abusing Graven’s psychological frailty after noting that he had previously informed police he consented to the online stunts to generate income.
Regulatory Backlash and Investigations Facing Kick
The tragedy surrounding Graven’s final broadcast catalyzed condemnation from French officials and triggered investigations across international jurisdictions. Sarah El Hairy, France’s high commissioner for childhood, similarly warned that the pursuit of visibility and audience metrics cannot excuse dehumanization.
While French regulators including Arcom and the Paris prosecutor’s office launched inquiries, the Australia-based streaming platform Kick faced scrutiny from its home jurisdiction. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner opened an active investigation into the safety failures surrounding the broadcast that exposed users to real-world violence. A representative for the eSafety Commissioner warned that non-compliance with Australian online safety laws can include seeking financial penalties of up to AUD $49.5m. Kick officials stated that the platform banned all participating co-streamers pending further review and cut ties with its French social media agency after promotional posts improperly utilized Graven’s image to market merchandise.
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