A third trial, but no second chance over the murders: Mohamed Aberouz’s situation
The Court of Cassation has ordered a third trial for Mohamed Lamine Aberouz. However, the Franco-Moroccan will not be retried for the double murder in Magnanville: his guilt on that count is final, and his life sentence remains applicable.
The decision handed down on Wednesday, September 23 does not reset Mohamed Lamine Aberouz’s case. The Court of Cassation overturned only part of the ruling that had sentenced him on appeal, on June 25, 2025, to life imprisonment with a 22-year mandatory minimum term.
The annulment concerns his complicity in the unlawful confinement of Jean-Baptiste Salvaing and Jessica Schneider’s son, who was three years old at the time of the attack. The high court noted a discrepancy between the list of questions submitted to the assize court and the written reasoning behind the decision.
The convictions of Mohamed Aberouz for complicity in the murders of the couple and for terrorist criminal conspiracy remain final. The next trial therefore cannot reexamine his guilt for the double murder, reports Le Parisien.
The life sentence with a 22-year mandatory minimum term also remains applicable. However, the new assize court will have to rule on the overturned count and impose a sentence taking its decision into account.
On Bladi.net : Life Sentence Upheld for Accomplice in Brutal Murder of French Police Couple
Mohamed Aberouz had already been sentenced to the same punishment at first instance, in October 2023, and then on appeal in June 2025. The prosecution relied in particular on DNA found on the wrist rest of the victims’ computer to establish his presence in their home.
A third trial limited to the unlawful confinement of the child
On June 13, 2016, jihadist Larossi Abballa murdered police commander Jean-Baptiste Salvaing outside his home in Magnanville, in Yvelines. He then killed his partner Jessica Schneider, a police officer, inside the house.
Their three-year-old son remained held inside the house for several hours. Raid police officers found him alive after shooting Larossi Abballa dead. In the judges’ view, Mohamed Aberouz had participated in preparing the attack and was present at the scene, which he has always denied.
His lawyers, Vincent Brengarth and Nino Arnaud, describe the partial cassation ruling as “extremely rare.” They intend to use the new trial to once again challenge their client’s presence in the house. However, Mohamed Aberouz’s guilt in the murders can no longer be legally challenged.
On Bladi.net : Life Sentence for Accomplice in 2016 Magnanville Police Murders
The third trial will take place before a specially constituted assize court in Paris. Its date has not yet been set. The proceedings will concern the unlawful confinement of the child and the sentence to be imposed following the annulment of this count of conviction.
