Moroccan Man’s 30-Year Sentence Upheld in French Murder Appeal Case

A setback for Tarik Attar and one of his lawyers, Samuel Estève. While they were expecting a reduced sentence, the Dijon Assize Court of Appeal confirmed the judgment handed down at first instance. Tarik Attar was sentenced to 30 years of criminal imprisonment, with a 12-year security period, reports France info. The contested judgment had been pronounced in June 2020. At the end of the appeal trial, Samuel Estève expressed his disappointment. According to him, the court "could have done better."

"It’s good, he got 30 years, that’s what we wanted, he can’t appeal anymore now," rejoiced Gérard Vandesboch, Valentin Amrouche’s grandfather, whose lifeless body had been discovered in an apartment in Montceau-les-Mines on August 3, 2017. "I’m relieved to tell myself that my brother, he had justice. It was long to wait for 4 years. This sentence will never bring my brother back," said Caroline, the victim’s half-sister, for her part.

Designated as the main suspect, Tarik Attar had been placed in pre-trial detention after surrendering to the police on the day the victim’s body was discovered. During his trial at first instance, he had partially admitted the facts, but had claimed not to have had the intention to kill Valentin. It was an "involuntary" murder, he had argued, believing that his sentence was heavy. But the president of the assize court had explained that the length of the sentence was motivated by the seriousness of the facts, Tarik Attar’s criminal record, already convicted for acts of violence, and finally the behavior of the defendant after the murder.