Heavy sentences and acquittals were handed down this Friday afternoon, June 28, in the trial for the assassinations of Jean-Luc Codaccioni and Antoine Quilichini, figures of organized crime killed at Bastia-Poretta airport on December 5, 2017. All against a backdrop of war between rival clans.
After approximately two months of hearings, the lay jurors of the Bouches-du-Rhône Assize Court have just convicted 14 defendants.
Jimmy Bailleuil and Jacques Mariani are there. As is Cathy Châtelain, smiling, who is returning to the box for the first time in several weeks. Her arrival had been planned since the announcement of her daughter’s presence in the room, whom she has not seen for several years.
In the room, silence gives way to the sentences read aloud by Jean-Yves Martorano, the president of the court: 30 years of criminal imprisonment, accompanied by 20 years of security, against Christophe Guazzelli (for assassination by an organized gang and attempted assassination by an organized gang, all as a repeat offense). He is considered by the prosecution to be the shooter, “the soul of this criminal project”. 25 years of criminal imprisonment for Christophe Andreani with a 13-year security period, “the childhood friend who can refuse nothing and provides considerable help to those concerned” (murder by an organized gang and attempted murder by an organized gang), 25 years of criminal imprisonment with a security period of 15 years, for Abdel-Hafid Bekouche “recognized at the airport” (organized gang assassination and organized gang assassination attempt), 23 years of criminal imprisonment for Cathy Chatelainthe prison guard, (murder by an organized gang and attempted murder by an organized gang, passive corruption), 25 years of criminal imprisonment with a security sentence of 16 years for Richard Guazzelli, “the chauffeur” (murder by an organized gang and attempted murder by an organized gang as repeat offender), 10 years in prison for Jacques Mariani (criminal association with a view to preparing a repeat crime), 25 years of criminal imprisonment with a security period of 15 years for Ange-Marie Michelosi, “the third orphan whose father was the pillar of the Petit bar” (murder by an organized gang and attempted murder by an organized gang, all repeat offences), 20 years of criminal imprisonment for Jaouad Sebbouba “airplane pilot who hid the car used in the crime and a weapon” (complicity in assassination by an organized gang and complicity in attempted assassination by an organized gang, all repeat offenses), 9 years against Jimmy Bailleul, “the carrier” (criminal association with a view to preparing a crime).
“He is driven by this desire for revenge”
Against the defendants not in custody, all prosecuted for criminal conspiracy with a view to committing a crime, the sentences are less severe: 5 years in prison, including two years firm for Chloe Castellana and for Gaëlle Sker. Dominique Senechal is sentenced to 3 years in prison, one of which is suspended. No arrest warrant for these three people.
Francois Marchioni et Joseph Menconi are acquitted.
A ten-year prison sentence was handed down against Riad Belgacemon the run. The accused have ten days to appeal.
“Christophe Guazzelli is the soul of this criminal project, said Yvon Calvet, one of the two attorneys general, during the requisitions. He will gradually assemble a team. Since 2009 and the assassination of his father Francis Guazzelli, he has been driven by this desire for revenge. He will surround himself with nine men. Richard, his brother, of whom there is no doubt about his participation, Jacques Mariani to set up this project, Ange-Marie Michelosi, the third orphan whose father was the pillar of the Petit bar, Christophe Andreani, the friend of childhood who cannot refuse anything and provides considerable help to those concerned, François Marchioni, the close friend of the maternal uncle, essential in this project, Joseph Menconi, who provides the information, Abdel-Hafid Bekkouche, Jaouad Sebbouba, present since departure, and Riad Belgacem.”
The accusation also focuses on peripheral roles: “This is the first time that in a case of settling scores in Corsica, women have been tried in the assizes. There are the companions, Chloé Castellana and Gaëlle Sker as well as Cathy Chatelain.”
“Christophe Guazzelli is the project manager”
For attorneys general“we can admit that for sons, there is a trauma. But nothing justified Christophe Guazzelli coming to organize such assassinations in such conditions, in a public place.”
The prosecution places five people ” au minimum “who participate in the events at the airport: “Bekkouche and Sebbouba were recognized. Cathy Châtelain speaks of four people but she forgets the driver.” The Guazzelli brothers complete the team. Christophe Guazzelli is appointed as “the organizer, the one who gives instructions. He is the project manager,
beyond being the shooter.” Richard Guazzelli is introduced as ” the chauffeur. He is wearing a mask and he is the one who says “It’s cinema.” It takes its full place in Christophe’s project. He does nothing to dissuade him. He is at the wheel of the Golf and gives Gaëlle instructions for the poison.
