Since Monday, December 16, six men have appeared before the Vienne Assize Court, at the Poitiers court. They are accused of having orchestrated or participated in the kidnapping, followed by the murder, of a drug trafficker in September 2020. This crime, which occurred in the commune of Mignaloux-Beauvoir, still raises many questions about the circumstances and the motivations of the accused.
Back to the facts
According to France 3, on September 6, 2020, Khaled B., a 37-year-old drug trafficker, received a phone call from another dealer who arranged to meet him at a gas station in Mignaloux-Beauvoir, near Poitiers. The next morning, his bruised body was abandoned in front of the emergency room of Arpajon hospital, in Essonne. The man, wearing only sweatpants, had numerous injuries. Despite the efforts of doctors, Khaled B. succumbed to his injuries.
The driver of the vehicle that left the body immediately fled, adding a dramatic and mysterious dimension to the case.
The investigation: a major breakthrough in 2021
It was in January 2021 that the investigation reached a decisive turning point. The Poitiers judicial police arrest six suspects. The case is entrusted to an investigating judge from the criminal division. The charges include kidnapping and sequestration followed by death, all committed by an organized gang.
A trial to establish the truth
The trial which has opened aims to understand the exact role of each of the accused in this complex crime. Several gray areas remain, particularly regarding the motivations behind this kidnapping. Was it a settling of scores related to drugs or a financial debt?
Among the six men on trial, three are accused of arrest, kidnapping and kidnapping resulting in death. They face life imprisonment. The others will face charges related to the fire in the vehicle used to transport the victim. This aspect will be examined at a later trial.
A highly anticipated verdict
This trial is scheduled to last until Friday, December 20, when the verdict will be rendered. This judgment must not only clarify the circumstances of this murder but also establish the responsibility of each accused in this chilling affair.
