Verdict Caps Electrifying Three-Week Trial
A special assize court in Bouches-du-Rhône delivered a split verdict Tuesday in a high-profile case involving a 2019 double murder, acquitting the man suspected of being a leader of the Marseille-based criminal group DZ Mafia while convicting four others. The trial, which unfolded over three weeks in a tense atmosphere, concluded several days behind schedule.
Acquittal and Convictions
Amine Oualane, for whom prosecutors had sought an 18-year sentence, was acquitted of all charges related to the killings. Upon hearing the verdict, Oualane, who had denounced the proceedings as a “political” trial, smiled faintly from the defendant’s dock, which was guarded by 15 heavily armed police officers.
His lawyer, Me Inès Médioune, declared the outcome “a victory for justice.”
However, four other defendants were convicted for their roles in the drug-trafficking-related murders, which occurred in a Formule 1 hotel room prior to the formal creation of the DZ Mafia group. The sentences were notably lower than what prosecutors had requested.
- Gabriel Ory, a presumed DZ Mafia figure, received a 25-year sentence for aiding in the preparation of the murders.
- The alleged masterminds, Karim Harrat and Walid Bara (the latter tried in absentia as a fugitive), were each sentenced to 25 years in prison.
- The perpetrators received 25 years for the shooter, Zaineddine Ahamada, and 15 years for his accomplice, Adrien Faure.
Prosecution’s Demands Exceeded by Court’s Ruling
The court’s penalties fell significantly short of the public prosecutor’s requests. The prosecution had demanded life imprisonment for three of the accused. Five of the six individuals referred to trial were present; one remains at large.
Following the verdict, Me Christine d’Arrigo, lawyer for the convicted Gabriel Ory, criticized what she called a “political verdict,” asserting that “media pressure has been stronger” than the evidence in her client’s case.
