These are ultimately four young people from Rochelle aged 20 to 22 who were indicted and imprisoned, for the murder and theft of the organizer of clandestine poker evenings in La Rochelle. It was on the night of September 4 to 5, in a quiet area of the city: Mel Benzaït, 32, also owner of the apartment which hosted the evening, had been shot in the head. He died the next day at Poitiers University Hospital.
For the investigators, the scenario begins to become clearer, and each of the suspects would have played a specific role in the drama: there is a suspected shooter, another robber present alongside him in the apartment transformed into a games circle, a driver who was waiting for them outside, and a sponsor. But the prosecution warns: the roles of each remain to be confirmedbecause some dispute their involvement. No one, for example, admits to having fired.
Evaporated loot
The loot seems to have evaporated, estimated at several tens of thousands of euros according to the La Rochelle public prosecutor's office. A significant amount for a clandestine poker evening, but it must be said that its events organized by Mel Benzait had a quasi-professional level, recruiting dealer and hostess. Some of the suspects are said to have participated, at least once.
As revealed by our colleagues from South-Westit was the alleged shooter who – knowing he was wanted – was the first to go to the police, on November 14. The other arrests took place until November 26. The four young men are all indicted for murder accompanied by another crimein this case armed robbery.
