Image: Jihad Watch
After a day and a half of trial, Sylvaine Schumacher, attorney general of the departmental criminal court, called for the conviction of El Bachir Rahmouni late Tuesday morning, January 14. She requested a sentence of 10 to 12 years of imprisonment and a permanent ban from French territory.
Schumacher emphasized the credibility of the complainant, who was 17 at the time of the events on November 7, 2021, and praised her “courage” in testifying. Conversely, the accused, El Bachir Rahmouni, faced scrutiny for his numerous contradictions, which solidified the prosecution's belief in his guilt. His lawyer argued that cultural “traditions” might explain the teenager’s actions, suggesting she had consensual relations but later denied them.
The trial marks a pivotal moment for Rahmouni, a 29-year-old Algerian accused of rape. On November 7, 2021, he allegedly gained the trust of Neïla, a 17-year-old runaway, and brought her to an unsanitary squat in Aubagne, where, according to her testimony, he brutally raped her. Police found her the next day, and her account of the traumatic incident was supported by medical examinations.
Initially, Rahmouni denied any sexual contact but later admitted to consensual intercourse. Late Tuesday morning, Schumacher described him as “a predator” who targeted a vulnerable victim and acted without regard for her wishes or feelings. She highlighted the coherence of the complainant’s testimony, despite some inconsistencies attributed to dissociation, a common response in rape cases. The attorney general also underscored the “very serious consequences” the events had on the young woman.
When the prosecution's arguments were read, Rahmouni broke down in loud sobs, collapsed in the dock, and appeared to vomit. Proceedings were briefly suspended as his lawyer, Me Said Benhamed, began his plea. Benhamed argued for acquittal, citing “the weight of traditions” to suggest that the complainant may have consented but struggled to admit it to her family. He pointed to delays in filing the complaint, inconsistencies in her recollection of events, and her seemingly unconstrained behavior with Rahmouni in video footage.
The court's five professional judges retired to deliberate early in the afternoon, with the verdict expected by the end of the day.
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