Driver in Fatal World Cup Celebration Crash to Remain Jailed Until Trial

Charged with "fatal blow," William Charif will be tried before the Hérault Criminal Court on October 22 and 23. But until then, he will remain in prison. On Tuesday, June 10, the Montpellier Court of Appeal confirmed his continued pre-trial detention until the opening of his trial. During this hearing, Mr. Mousset, the defendant’s lawyer, pleaded for his release under electronic monitoring. "I never intended to cause death, it was unintentional, it was an accident," William Charif insisted.

The defendant was arrested after a ten-day run in Spain. He is accused of killing Aymen, a 13-year-old teenager of Moroccan origin, after driving into a crowd on December 14, 2022, following France’s victory over Morocco in the semi-final of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. "You say that a projectile was thrown at your vehicle and that you felt in danger, you contest the voluntary nature of the violence," the court recalled.

For their part, Aymen’s family demands justice. "This is an extremely painful case for Aymen’s family, who are eagerly awaiting this hearing, at last," said Mes Garance Tursan and Marc Gallix, representing the victim’s family. After hearing both parties, the Court of Appeal decided not to grant provisional release to the accused and to exceptionally extend his pre-trial detention, which was due to expire in July, until his trial, as requested by the public prosecutor’s office "to ensure that he will be present at the trial."