The two defendants received the same penalties as at first instance, on November 22, before the Moulins Assize Court for minors.
The Puy-de-Dôme Assize Court on Friday confirmed on appeal the sentencing of two young men to life imprisonment and 30 years in prison for torturing and killing three retirees, a couple and a living septuagenarian alone, in 2017 in Montluçon (Allier).
The Court followed the requisitions of Advocate General Raphaël Sanesi, who had also requested a 22-year safety sentence for the heaviest sentence, said Anne-Cécile Bloch, lawyer for the civil parties.
The fear of a cassation appeal
“It is a satisfactory decision because justice has recognized the gravity of the facts.
But with my clients, we are apprehending the cassation appeal envisaged by the defense of one of the accused, ”she declared at the end of this four-day trial.
Zaki AT, 18 years old at the time of the facts, was sentenced to life imprisonment with 22 years of safety.
Regarding his co-accused Dailami A., 17 years old at the time, the “minority excuse” had been lifted at the start of the trial, automatically increasing his sentence from 20 to 30 years in prison.
An accused asked for forgiveness
“The first accused spoke a little more than at first instance and asked for forgiveness, even if we know that he had been prepared by his lawyers.
The youngest, not at all.
He was in mistrust and provocation, ”continued Me Bloch.
The two men appeared since Tuesday in Riom (Puy-de-Dôme) for the murders, "accompanied or followed by acts of torture or barbarism", of Ginette and Massimo Degl'Innocenti, 85 and 71 years old, and Jeannine Ponce, 74 years old, in March 2017.
Kicks, a knife, a broken glass bottle on the head, insecticide bombs emptied into the mouths, had accompanied the ordeal of the victims, all of modest conditions and from whom their torturers had stolen only a few euros.
A young woman raped in front of her companion
The two defendants were also convicted of the “gang rape” of a young woman in her apartment, in front of her imprisoned companion, the same night as the murder of Ms. Ponce.
Newsletter - Most of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le Parisien
I'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to enable you to receive our news and commercial offers.
Learn more
“It's a regrettable decision.
It obliges us to regularize a cassation appeal […] which will impose a new trial on the families of the victims ”lamented Zaki AT's lawyer, Renaud Portejoie.
Chaotic and violent journeys
“Maybe the Court has judged a little in the emotion.
The facts are obviously terrible.
We urged the Assize Court not to forget that it was judging a minor and a very young adult (note: at the material time) and that they had to be given a chance, even in 20 years, even in 30 years, ”he added.
At the hearing, the lawyer recalled the chaotic and violent journeys of the accused, between Mayotte and the metropolis, where they were left to their own devices.