chargement...
A teenager was found guilty of manslaughter for the killing of a Moroccan teen during a fight in a Dublin park. The 17-year-old was not found guilty of murdering Azzam Raguragui who was fatally stabbed in May 2019.
According to Irish Times, Raguragui suffered an artery after he was stabbed five times in the chest, which caused massive blood loss and led to his death. During the trial, which started in 2019, the defendant’s lawyer argued that the teenager «was acting in self-defense» during the fight that erupted between his friends and those of Azzam over a stolen bicycle.
The other teenagers who were involved in the fight told the trial that someone from the accused’s group had allegedly stolen a bike and a confrontation was planned over that. The defendant’s friends had met earlier to the fight at a house. A teenager from the same group, who changed his account later, said that during this meeting, the defendant had the knife on him at that time.
The trial heard that the two groups met at Finsbury park, where the stabbing took place, and agreed to talk about the stolen bike. However, things escalated quickly.
Contradicting stories
The same source indicates that each group had a different story. While Azzam’s friends told the court that one of the defendant’s group punched him, others claimed that the «fight broke out after a member of Azzam’s group punched one of their group and kicked him when he fell to the ground».
Furthermore, Azzam’s friends told the court that the defendant had allegedly run after him and stabbed him while he was lying on the ground after he fell.
On the other hand, a pathologist disagreed with this story, suggesting that «the injuries suffered by Azzam could have been caused while he was standing up and he pointed out that three independent witnesses who were walking through the park did not see anyone being stabbed on the ground», the same source added.
After 13 hours of deliberations, the jury found by a «majority verdict of ten to two that the accused was not guilty of murder» as he would have honestly believed he was acting in «self-defense».
Azzam's parents disappointed
The decision fell like a bomb-shell on Azzam’s parents. Upon hearing the verdict, his mother stormed out of the court and shouted «it’s not fair».
The family’s anger did not stop there. Abderrahmane Raguaragui, Azzam’s father, launched a petition on Change.org, demanding justice for his son. Titled «Justice for Azzam Raguragui» and signed by more than 8,000 people, the petition claims that the verdict issued by a Jury in The Criminal Courts of Justice was «unfair».
«The verdict was surprising to everyone and very disappointing», the father wrote, announcing that the family will appeal the decision.
On May 19, 2019, about 600 people attended a memorial service held to honor Azzam Raguragui. The parents of the teenager, Abderrahmane Raguaragui and Hajiba Elouaddaf, spoke during the service, describing him as a «very compliant son to his father and mother» who had always «delivered his promises».
