the enchantment trial of two convicts opens in Paris | EUROtoday

Published on : 04/22/2024 – 05:43Modified : 04/22/2024 – 07:58

4 minutes

The assault left 86 lifeless on July 14, 2016 on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Nearly 500 days after the decision rendered at first occasion, the enchantment trial of two kinfolk of the writer of the ram truck assault begins on Monday, April 22, earlier than the Special Assize Court of Paris.

Mohamed Ghraieb, a 48-year-old Franco-Tunisian and Chokri Chafroud, a 44-year-old Tunisian, the one two of the eight trial defendants to have appealed, have been sentenced to 18 years in jail (out of 20 years incurred) for participation in a felony terrorist affiliation.

The writer of the assault which left 86 lifeless, together with round fifteen kids, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a 31-year-old Tunisian supply driver with an unstable character, was killed by the police on the day of the assault.

“The victims are mainly waiting for the court of appeal to confirm the convictions, or even to go further regarding the quantum of the sentences,” Nice lawyer Olivia Chalus-Penochet, who represents a number of civil events, advised AFP. More than 2,500 folks have joined as civil events.

Among them, 230 deliberate to talk on the bar. Contrary to what occurred on the first trial, neither François Hollande nor Bernard Cazeneuve, on the time President of the Republic and Minister of the Interior, ought to testify.

According to the affiliation “Une Voie des Enfants”, cited by France Bleu Azur, 9 minors are anticipated to testify for the primary time through the enchantment trial.

These kids won’t journey to Paris and can ship their testimony from Nice.

According to the affiliation's lawyer, Me Marie-Pierre Lazard, “there were 3,000 children present on the Promenade des Anglais” on the night of the assault. “Seven hundred were followed by the psychological unit specially created after the attack,” she added.

Plead for acquittal

As through the first occasion trial, the listening to will probably be filmed and recorded for the archives. An internet radio, in a number of languages, will enable civil events who can’t journey to Paris to comply with the debates on a slight delay. It will even be potential to comply with the trial by video from Nice.

In rendering its verdict, the courtroom of first occasion thought of that Mohamed Ghraieb and Chokri Chafroud had participated in Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel's felony venture, specifically by touring with him in his truck a number of days earlier than the assault.

During the proceedings, the 2 accused at all times proclaimed their innocence, claiming to haven’t any information of their compatriot's felony plans.

Their attorneys advised AFP that they’d plead for acquittal.

The Nice assault was the second deadliest assault dedicated in France after the assaults towards the Stade de France, the Bataclan live performance corridor and terraces of bars and eating places in Paris on November 13, 2015.

Before the occasions, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel was higher recognized for acts of violence, significantly towards his spouse, than for his proximity to the jihadist motion.

On the night of July 14, 2016, he intentionally drove a 19-ton truck into the group gathered to observe fireworks. Before being neutralized by the police, he killed 86 folks, together with 33 international nationals, and injured greater than 450.

This assault was claimed, two days after the occasions, by the Islamic State (IS) group. However, the investigation didn’t make it potential to determine a direct hyperlink between the assault and the jihadist group. This declare “appears to be more of a claim of pure opportunity,” the investigation concluded.

The trial is scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m. within the “grand trial room” of the Paris courthouse. It will happen 5 days every week, from Monday at 9:30 a.m. to Friday night, from April 22 to June 14 (besides May 10 and 20).

With AFP