Nancy Murder Trial Ends in Acquittals, Fugitive Suspect Cleared

A series of acquittals were handed down in the case of the murder of Khaled Arbouze. The 10 defendants tried for murder or complicity were not found guilty. The two defendants presented by the investigating chamber and also the public prosecutor as the killers were acquitted, reports L’Est républicain. Farès Ettaki, on the run in Morocco, and Billy Mangin, whose DNA had been found in the Berlingo used for surveillance of the victim, were not found guilty of complicity. The two defendants were sentenced to seven and five years in prison respectively for the offense of criminal association.

Fouad Ziad, Ismaïl Arahal and Mohamed Benabdallah, all three tried for this same complicity in murder, were also acquitted. But Arahal was convicted of "criminal association". His DNA had also been found in the Berlingo. Tried for this offense, Mandossa Mendy, Cédric Theisen and Mohamed Ajdal were also convicted. Ziad was sentenced to one year in prison. A weapon had been found at his home. As for Sébastien Leduc and Aurélie C., suspected of having helped Farès Ettaki in his escape and prosecuted for "concealment of a criminal from searches and arrest", they were also acquitted. The public prosecutor can appeal within 10 days.