the essential
Against all expectations, the accused, on trial since Wednesday, was exonerated by the jurors of the death of the 21-year-old Castrais in 2016 in a road accident. Story of a suspenseful last day, ending with great tensions and a lot of incomprehension for the victim's family.
It is the symbol of this French archipelago. Of this France with social and cultural fractures, and of these men and women with contrary lives, who faced each other in the courtroom of the Tarn Assize Court. A clash between two worlds. On one side, a North African family, the Dahmani, from a working-class neighborhood, in this case Aillot in Castres, plunged into infinite grief after the loss of their “Dahou”, in 2016. On the other, Alex Rodriguez, a man with no history from the middle class, on trial since Wednesday for having killed the 21-year-old Castres in a road accident.
Also read:
First day of Alex Rodriguez's trial at the Albi assizes: “It was an avoidance reflex” swears the passenger in the van who killed Dahou Dahmani
In the center, a question: this June 18 in the rue de Bretagne in Castres, did he deliberately swerve to his left to hit the driver of a motorcycle stolen a few weeks earlier? To this question and after listening attentively to the debates for two days, the jury answered no. Also no to any other questions about his guilt, even involuntary.
A relief for the accused, who left as he entered: free. For those close to Samir Dahou, the sky fell on their heads a second time, causing great tension when the verdict was announced, they who have been demanding justice and conviction since the start of the legal proceedings. The two pleadings of the civil party's lawyers, Me Martin and Senie Delon, although tinged with humanity, were not enough to convince the jurors, who leaned towards the position of the advocate general and especially the defense lawyer, Me Debuisson senior, meticulous and mine-clearer of the day to plead for the acquittal of his client.
The absence of images from video protection cameras at the time of the collision: a key element in this trial
At the end of the trial, it remains unclear whether the black Honda had been stolen or purchased by the victim, as was said. We also don't really know what happened that evening. As we still don't know what was going through the driver's head when making this deadly decision. Why didn't he just park his vehicle on the side of the road and watch the motorcycle go by and check if it was the right one? And many other questions left unanswered.
Also read:
Death of Samir Dahou at the Tarn Assizes: “Our life has been destroyed”… the pain of a broken family
However, from the start, Alex Rodriguez never deviated from his position: he had a reflex and was unable to explain it. His reaction after the shock: “I'm sorry, I'm sorry”, hands on his head, confirmed his version.
Two contradictory versions, both considered plausible by the Advocate General. The doubt was real and palpable even today, and this is surely what decided the jurors: doubt always benefits the accused, in the absence of implacable evidence. The absence of images from video protection cameras at the time of the collision was a key element in this trial.
“Distinguishing between morality and law”, the exercise was perilous for the jurors, as the family's pain was visible on cheeks flooded with tears. But “the work of justice is not to please anyone”, indicated the attorney general, even if the loss of a loved one pierces to the depths of one's soul. Eight years later, justice has ruled. Eight years is a long time, and much more after that for the Dahmani, for whom June 18, 2016 will always rhyme absence with suffering.
