Two Sentenced, Five Acquitted in Brutal Mob Killing of Drug Dealer in Saint-Ouen
SAINT-OUEN, France – In a case marked by silence and fear, a French court has sentenced two men to lengthy prison terms for the brutal murder of a drug dealer in 2021. Five othre defendants were acquitted due to lack of evidence, highlighting the challenges of prosecuting crimes within the clandestine world of drug trafficking.
Violent Attack and Court Verdict
The Seine-Saint-Denis court handed down sentences of 17 and 19 years to Chakibe Abzar and Karim Lmghari, respectively. These were the only two defendants to admit involvement in the attack on Kevin G., 26, on January 3, 2021. The victim was fatally assaulted with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire and stabbed multiple times. The severity of the attack led the presiding judge to describe it as a ”lynching” resulting from “street justice”.
Hichem Abzar, the brother of Chakibe, was acquitted despite prosecutors requesting a 27-year sentence.He was suspected of being the hooded figure seen on surveillance footage stabbing the victim. The remaining four defendants, accused of being accomplices to the murder, were also acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
Prosecution’s Case Faces Setback
The verdicts represent a significant setback for the prosecution, which had sought prison terms ranging from 10 to 27 years for all seven defendants, arguing thay acted as a “pack” during the crime.
Motive tied to Drug Turf War
Prosecutors argued that Kevin G.’s murder was a targeted “punitive expedition” carried out by lower-level figures in the Saint-Ouen drug trade. The victim allegedly sought to reclaim a sales point by enlisting the help of El Mehdi Zouhairi, a major drug trafficker from a rival gang. Zouhairi, nicknamed “Gros” or “Malsain,” is currently a fugitive in Morocco and was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison on a separate drug charge in 2023.
fear and Silence Hamper Investigation
According to the prosecution,the victim’s alliance was viewed as an ”unforgivable” act,as Zouhairi was allegedly behind the 2019 assassination of another drug kingpin in Saint-Ouen,Mohamed Gacem,known as “cyborg.” That case remains unresolved.
Presiding Judge Marc Sommerer acknowledged the difficulty in determining the precise motive for the attack, stating, “We were unable to determine the decisive motive for the aggression. Was it related to drug trafficking or not? We were unable to confirm or deny it.”
Defense Argues “Rixe”
The defense countered the prosecution’s narrative, arguing that the incident was a “brawl” unrelated to drug dealing, involving young people raised in the “violence” of saint-Ouen. One defense attorney, Me Sevim Kasay, described the accused as part of a generation that is sometimes elevated and sometimes dragged down by its surroundings.
The trial, which began on February 25, was plagued by the absence of key witnesses, some of whom were fined for failing to appear. Those who did testify often provided evasive answers, contributing to a pervasive atmosphere of silence. As the judge lamented during the proceedings, “We are not in Palermo or Naples; this is not the mafia, but we have witnesses who do not come or who say nothing becuase they are so afraid.”
**How did the fear and silence prevalent in the community surrounding the drug trade impact the examination and prosecution of the case?** This question explores the social and cultural factors that contributed to the challenges faced by law enforcement.
Two Sentenced, Five Acquitted in Brutal Mob Killing of Drug Dealer in Saint-Ouen
SAINT-OUEN, France – In a case marked by silence and fear, a french court has sentenced two men to lengthy prison terms for the brutal murder of a drug dealer in 2021.Five othre defendants were acquitted due to lack of evidence,highlighting the challenges of prosecuting crimes within the clandestine world of drug trafficking.
Violent Attack and Court Verdict
the Seine-Saint-Denis court handed down sentences of 17 and 19 years to Chakibe abzar and Karim lmghari, respectively. These were the only two defendants to admit involvement in the attack on Kevin G., 26, on january 3, 2021. The victim was fatally assaulted with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire and stabbed multiple times. The severity of the attack led the presiding judge to describe it as a ”lynching” resulting from “street justice”.
Hichem Abzar, the brother of Chakibe, was acquitted despite prosecutors requesting a 27-year sentance.He was suspected of being the hooded figure seen on surveillance footage stabbing the victim. The remaining four defendants, accused of being accomplices to the murder, were also acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
Prosecution’s Case Faces Setback
The verdicts represent a significant setback for the prosecution, which had sought prison terms ranging from 10 to 27 years for all seven defendants, arguing thay acted as a “pack” during the crime.
Motive tied to Drug Turf War
Prosecutors argued that Kevin G.’s murder was a targeted “punitive expedition” carried out by lower-level figures in the Saint-Ouen drug trade.The victim allegedly sought to reclaim a sales point by enlisting the help of El Mehdi Zouhairi, a major drug trafficker from a rival gang. Zouhairi, nicknamed “Gros” or “Malsain,” is currently a fugitive in Morocco and was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison on a separate drug charge in 2023.
fear and Silence Hamper Investigation
According to the prosecution,the victim’s alliance was viewed as an ”unforgivable” act,as Zouhairi was allegedly behind the 2019 assassination of another drug kingpin in Saint-Ouen,Mohamed Gacem,known as “cyborg.” That case remains unresolved.
Presiding Judge Marc Sommerer acknowledged the difficulty in determining the precise motive for the attack, stating, ”We were unable to determine the decisive motive for the aggression. Was it related to drug trafficking or not? We were unable to confirm or deny it.”
Defense Argues “Rixe”
The defense countered the prosecution’s narrative, arguing that the incident was a “brawl” unrelated to drug dealing, involving young people raised in the “violence” of saint-Ouen. One defense attorney, Me Sevim Kasay, described the accused as part of a generation that is sometimes elevated and sometimes dragged down by its surroundings.
The trial, which began on February 25, was plagued by the absence of key witnesses, some of whom were fined for failing to appear. Those who did testify often provided evasive answers, contributing to a pervasive atmosphere of silence. As the judge lamented during the proceedings, ”We are not in Palermo or Naples; this is not the mafia, but we have witnesses who do not come or who say nothing becuase they are so afraid.”
Q&A: Unpacking the Saint-Ouen Murder Case
Q: what exactly happened to Kevin G.?
A: Kevin G., a drug dealer, was brutally attacked on January 3, 2021, with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire and stabbed multiple times. Two men have been convicted in connection with the “lynching.”
Q: Who was El Mehdi Zouhairi and what role did he play?
A: Zouhairi, nicknamed “Gros” or “malsain,” is a major drug trafficker from a rival gang to Kevin G.’s. Kevin G. sought Zouhairi’s help to reclaim a sales point, which prosecutors argued was a key motive for the murder. Zouhairi is currently a fugitive in Morocco.
Q: Why were so many defendants acquitted?
A: The acquittals were primarily due to a lack of evidence. The investigation was hampered by witness silence and fear, making it tough to establish the roles of the accused beyond the two convicted.
Q: What is the importance of the unsolved 2019 assassination of Mohamed Gacem (“Cyborg”)?
A: The unresolved assassination of Mohamed Gacem, allegedly orchestrated by Zouhairi, adds another layer of complexity to the drug turf war. The prosecution argued that Kevin G.’s alliance with Zouhairi was viewed as an unforgivable act due to the prior killing.
Q: What does “Rixe” mean in this context?
A: “Rixe” is French for “brawl” or “fight.” The defense used this term to argue that the attack was not related to the drug trade, but a spontaneous act of violence among young people.
Q: What obstacles did the prosecution face?
A: The prosecution faced significant challenges, including witness intimidation, evasive testimony, and the resulting inability to definitively establish a clear motive or link between all the accused and the crime. The judge even noted that the atmosphere was not like dealing with the mafia, but witnesses were too afraid to cooperate.
Q: Is Saint-Ouen a risky place?
A: Saint-Ouen, like many urban areas, faces challenges related to drug trafficking and related violence. The article highlights the difficult social habitat in which this crime took place.
Q: What can we learn from this case?
A: The case highlights the complexities of prosecuting crimes within the shadow of the drug trade,where fear and silence frequently enough prevail over justice. It also provides a tough lesson on the price of getting caught in the cycle of violence.
The Saint-Ouen case underscores the dangers of the drug trade and the challenges in achieving justice in communities plagued by violence.
