From RFI · · 2m
Trial opens in Marseille triple murder case
Five men go on trial for the 2020 killings of three drug traffickers in a case exposing gang violence in southern France.
In brief
Five men go on trial for the 2020 killings of three drug traffickers in a case exposing gang violence in southern France. A trial opened in Aix-en-Provence for five men accused of murdering three drug traffickers in Marseille in twenty twenty and twenty twenty-one, part of turf wars over the local drug trade…
Trial opens under heavy security
Proceedings began on Monday in Aix-en-Provence with eleven masked police officers in the defendants' dock and armed security patrolling the courthouse streets.
Five accused of gang-linked murders
Five men with alleged connections to DZ Mafia, a Marseille-based organised crime group, are on trial for killing Brahim Chabane, Réda Khaldi and Nassim Loubani.
Victim's brother fights drug trafficking
Brahim Chabane's older brother Amine Kessaci, twenty-three, is an anti-drug trafficking campaigner and Marseille city councillor under police protection for more than a year.
Kessaci seeks justice, not revenge
Arriving at court with masked police officers, Kessaci said he was seeking justice, not revenge for his brother's death.
“seeking justice, not revenge”
Younger brother killed in twenty twenty-five
In November twenty twenty-five, Kessaci's younger brother Mehdi, aged twenty with no drug trafficking links, was shot dead by gunmen on motorbikes in central Marseille.
Two bodies found in burned car
On twenty-nine December twenty twenty, a burned-out car was found in a motorway tunnel containing two bodies with bullet wounds to the head: Réda Khaldi and Brahim Chabane.
Third victim found dismembered
On six January twenty twenty-one, another burned-out car was found containing the charred and dismembered body of Nassim Loubani.
Victims lured into ambush
Investigators concluded the three men, involved in drug trafficking, knew their killers and were lured into an ambush in Châteauneuf-les-Martigues near Marseille.
Chabane survived earlier attacks
Brahim Chabane, aged twenty-two when he died, had survived two assassination attempts earlier in twenty twenty.
Harrat accused of ordering killings
Karim Harrat, known as Rant, is accused of ordering and financing the operation from Dubai to eliminate rivals disrupting his drug networks. He denies involvement.
Oualane accused as main operative
Amine Oualane, known as Mamine and suspected future DZ Mafia leader, is accused of acting as Harrat's main operative and being one of the killers. He denies involvement.
Trial to last three weeks
The trial is being heard by professional judges rather than a jury due to concerns about possible pressure on jurors and is expected to last three weeks.
The bottom line
A trial opened in Aix-en-Provence for five men accused of murdering three drug traffickers in Marseille in twenty twenty and twenty twenty-one, part of turf wars over the local drug trade.
