From this Thursday, October 17 and until Friday, October 25, the Rennes juvenile court will judge five young men, aged 20 to 25. They will appear for the murder of Wilhem Houssin, a 49-year-old from Rennes who was attacked in broad daylight in Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande. That day, July 21, 2021, this musician and father of two children accompanied a woman he had been hosting for several months. She had an appointment with a real estate agent. While the couple was looking for their way in the La Morinais district, Wilhem Houssin spoke to a group of young people sitting in front of the Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande media library. An area where drug trafficking is significant. According to several people involved in the case, Wilhem Houssin, who was drunk, had tried to take a cigarette from one of the young men posted at the deal point. The discussion had heated up and the first blows had been struck. His companion who was walking in front and was on the phone with the real estate agent did not have time to see the start of the altercation.
Between 3:14 p.m. and 3:16 p.m., according to the time stamp on the surveillance camera, the victim was the subject of a wave of violence. Particularly from an Algerian minor, now 21 years old. According to several suspects, the latter would have given Wilhem Houssin several blows to the head with his heels “like one would do to burst a watermelon”.
Wilhem Houssin died three days later at Pontchaillou University Hospital in Rennes. His forensic examination revealed fractures of a rib, a cervical vertebra and the occipital bone, and cerebral hemorrhages. The violence and gratuitousness of this murder caused a significant stir in the Rennes region. Several white marches had been organized in tribute to this professional musician who was also the son of the mayor of Vezin-le-Coquet.
The entire debate before the Rennes juvenile court will be to establish responsibility for the fatal blows. Versions differ and part of the attack took place outside the field of vision of the video surveillance camera. The defense benches will therefore not be united. Given that two of the main co-defendants were minors at the time of the facts, the trial will take place behind closed doors.
