chargement...
The criminal court in Hérault has handed down an eight-year prison sentence to William C. for the murder of 13-year-old Aymen. Last week, the court found the accused guilty of intentionally running over the teenager after the 2022 World Cup semi-final between Morocco and France. The victim's family, of Moroccan descent, expressed their disappointment to the French media, arguing that the sentence is too lenient given the gravity of the crime. The public prosecutor had initially sought a 12-year sentence. Meanwhile, the defense has confirmed that the driver will not be appealing the decision.
Speaking to France 3 Regions, the victim's brother, Saïd Rahbi, shared his feelings, saying he is «disappointed with the decision, but not with the trial». «Our lawyer represented us excellently, and we had the evidence and witnesses we needed, for which we are grateful. The justice system performed its duty impeccably. However, the verdict is an additional source of pain for us», he remarked. «I can tell you, justice has not been served», declared Marc Gallix, the lawyer for the civil party.
On the other hand, Mikaël d’Alimonte, the defense attorney, remarked that the judges attempted to «strike a fair balance between the character of the accused and the suffering of the civil parties». In 2022, William C. was 20 years old, described as «born to a mother from the traveler community and a Moroccan father», according to AFP, which also noted that he «was diagnosed by psychological experts as having a significant 'cognitive deficit'».
Aside from the defense lawyer, only the public prosecutor has the authority to appeal the verdict. The civil party cannot request a revision of the sentence. Previously, the tragedy prompted a march of a thousand people in Montpellier, who carried white roses in tribute to Aymen. His family received support, including from the Moroccan consulate.
