15-Year-Old Sentenced to 15 Years for Student’s Murder in Morocco

The trial, which has been open for more than two years, has come to an end. The court sentenced the main defendant to 15 years in prison for "premeditated murder" of the student Anouar Othmani and for receiving stolen goods. The minor’s uncle was sentenced to 10 years in prison for "complicity, receiving stolen goods and concealment of evidence in order to obstruct the course of justice". The victim’s family announced that they will appeal this decision.

During the trial, Hajar rejected all the charges against her. The young woman explained that she committed this crime to defend her honor, after the victim tried to sexually assault her. A statement contradicted by Anouar’s family, who recalled that he died from a drug overdose, according to the autopsy report.

The minor’s uncle, for his part, denied any involvement in the commission of the murder, claiming that his niece had asked him to make certain evidence disappear, including the victim’s mobile phone and computer, as well as the knife used to commit the crime. The defendant said he carried out these instructions without asking questions, specifying that he had thrown the computer in a trash can and the knife around his home, near the university.

The facts date back to November 5, 2022, when Anouar, a student at the Faculty of Science and Technology in Tangier, was found dead in his apartment. After investigation, it was discovered that Hajar was at the crime scene. A dispute between the two young people would have degenerated, leading the defendant to stab the victim in the heart and neck, causing his death.