up to eleven years in prison required for the seven accused

Five of the accused, aged 24 to 35, are on trial for “terrorist criminal association”, two others for related offenses.

Sentences of up to 11 years in prison were requested, Tuesday, February 20, against the seven accused tried five weeks ago before the special Assize Court of Paris in the trial of the Trèbes and Carcassonne attacks, which four deaths in 2018.

On March 23, 2018, Radouane Lakdim, a 25-year-old radicalized petty criminal, had “cowardly and by surprise”according to General Counsel Alexa Dubourg, shot dead a man at a homosexual meeting place in Carcassonne, then shot at police officers jogging, before continuing his murderous journey to the Super U store in the neighboring town of Trèbes.

There, the one who claims to be part of the Islamic State organization had “as a fight”, “cowardly and by surprise”, repeated the magistrate, shot dead, hitting an employee and a customer. He then took a cashier hostage before coming across “heroism, honor, bravery” of gendarme Arnaud Beltrame, mortally wounded after taking the place of the hostage. Radouane Lakdim was killed in the attack by the police.

None of the accused is being tried for “complicity”, the investigation having shown that Radouane Lakdim had acted alone. Five of the accused, aged 24 to 35, are being tried for “terrorist criminal association”, two others for related offenses.

Eleven years required for assailant’s girlfriend

The heaviest sentence, eleven years of criminal imprisonment, was requested against Marine Pequignot, the attacker’s girlfriend, aged 18 at the time of the events. After two years of detention, she appeared free and is no longer radicalized, according to professionals.

But the one who, at the time of her arrest, had shouted “God is great” – A “reflex”she had justified –, had “seen” Radouane Lakdim’s weapons, his jihadist videos on social networks, knew the “targets” he planned to target… However, she never warned of the danger he could represent.

Ten years of criminal imprisonment were also requested against Samir Manaa, 28 years old, “everyday friend” of Lakdim, who had “mindfulness” of his “jihadist commitment”even “if he didn’t share it”, declared the second general advocate Aurélie Valente. Fifteen days before the attack, he had “a bad choice” to “tragic consequences” by accompanying his friend to buy the hunting dagger which will mortally wound Arnaud Beltrame.

Sentences of one year in prison, including four months suspended, to eight years in prison were requested against the other defendants.