| The Francis Imbard case | |
|---|---|
 Francis Imbard en 2001. | |
| Location | France Paris, 16th arrondissement of Paris |
| Date | February 26, 2003 |
Attack type | Homicide |
| Weapon | Firearm, specifically a Pistol |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Victim | Francis Imbard |
| Accused | Murder |
| Verdict | Unsolved case |
The Francis Imbard case is a criminal case that began in Paris, France, on February 26, 2003. On that day, 58-year-old Francis Imbard was shot in the head as he left his home. The 36, quai des Orfèvres crime squad opened a police investigation the same day. The police investigated the circumstances surrounding the homicide.
Francis Imbard, born in 1944 in the Gard region of France, was a nightclub manager in Paris. Once a teacher, he quickly became a businessman, buying up a number of ailing companies at low cost, then making them profitable before selling them on. In the late 1990s, he created Brasil Tropical, a dinner show, and L'Enfer (later renamed Le Red Light), a nightclub. His establishments were very popular in the early 2000s, and became landmarks in the Parisian "night world".
The investigators examined several leads: a crime of passion, a murder committed by a debtor, or a settling of scores, the most likely, but no suspect was identified, leaving the case unsolved. Throughout the investigation, several investigating judges came and went. In 2008, the case was dismissed, before finally being reopened. In 2014, an individual was indicted for complicity and participation in the murder, but this indictment was quashed on procedural grounds. In 2022, two individuals were indicted, one for masterminding the crime, the other for facilitating it.