Murder at the burqa in Toulouse: two defendants sentenced to life imprisonment and 8 to 25 years in prison for accomplices
Six men accused of being received in the murder “at the burqa” in July 2017 in Toulouse receive sentences ranging from 8 years to life. A Lyonnais is relaxed.
How far could the doubts hammered out Wednesday by the defense lawyers have sensitized the jurors? After a long day of reflection, the Assize Court of Haute-Garonne was severe.
First against Abdelkader Ramdani sentenced to life imprisonment with 22 years of security. This 48-year-old Lyonnais, present in Toulouse at the end of June early July 2017, had left his DNA on two Kalashnikov casings used during the assassination of Djamel Tahri on July 3, 2017 in the Reynerie district in Toulouse. “We are devastated. It’s a life sentence for a 48-year-old man. We are going to make an appeal, ”warns his lawyer, Me Karim Bouguessa.
On the other hand Walid Derqaoui 29 years old, presented by Advocate General David Senate as “the project manager and client”, the one who had “executed” Djamel Tahri was found guilty but simply of complicity in assassination and complicity in assassination attempts. The jurors, who sentenced him to life imprisonment, therefore considered that he was not under the burqa worn by the killer.
“Of course we will appeal”
“Part of the road has been completed today but it is neither sufficient nor satisfactory,” said Me Pierre Le Bonjour, his lawyer with Me Caroline Marty-Daudibertière. Me Hugues Vigier adds: “The court admits that Walid Derqaoui is not at the scene of the crime. His condemnation is due to the fact that he would have wanted revenge, or protect himself, which is neither demonstrated nor demonstrable! Of course we are going to appeal. “
Complicity was also retained against those who, according to the Advocate General were “the little hands”. Yacine Frikass, 25, sentenced is punished by 15 years of imprisonment. “This is not a judgment but a settling of scores. And we do not respond to a settling of scores by settling scores, ”denounces Me Simon Cohen.
The Bettouati brothers, Jamel, a relative of Walid Derqaoui, receives 25 years in prison, his 15-year-old brother Kamel. “An unjust decision and of extreme violence for young men who have no blood on their hands”, note, bitter, Mes Emmanuelle Franck, Alexandre Martin and Jean-Marc Darrigade. Finally Issam El Bouanani, tried for a repeat offense, is punished by 8 years in prison. “Given the detention already carried out, we would probably not appeal,” warns his lawyer, Me Katy Mira.
“Everyone is put in their place. Djamel Tahri was indeed the victim of the blind revenge of a determined killer, underlines Me Edouard Martial, lawyer for the victim’s family. Now this file is not closed. I guess we’re going to appeal ”.
The relaxed Lyon cousin
The role of landlord played by Hakim Rafi, cousin of Walid Derqaoui, who had welcomed him with three of his friends, during their passage near Lyon, a week before the assassination of Toulouse at the time they allegedly called Ramdani, was recognized by the Assize Court. But Hakim Rafi was released from the criminal association for which he was accused.
“The court to assess that he was not aware of the murderous project,” explained President Michel Huyette. “A long legal fight finally rewarded, relishes Me Axelle Chorier, his lawyer. But how long it took. This boy spent 20 months in pre-trial detention, then 20 months under judicial supervision. It was time for justice to realize that he knew nothing. “