the accused sentenced to perpetuity – release
His denials did not convince the jurors. Hicham Abderraouf, a 28 -year -old Algerian, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Tuesday, May 27, May 27 to have set fire in 2019 at a residence For seasonal workers in Courchevel. The accused denied throughout his trial before the Savoy Assize Court to have triggered the disaster, who caused two workers to death and made many injured.
“I have nothing to do, neither from afar, nor closely with the fire. I do not want to serve as a dressing, nor be the only scapegoat in this case ”he still launched Jurors on Tuesday in a final speaking. After seven hours of deliberations, they declared him guilty of this fire, but also of the detention of weapons and escape with violence. The jurors retained the perpetuity sentence required by the Advocate General, without periods of overbidden, however.
The young man, already sentenced for drug trafficking, welcomed the verdict with the head down. “Everything was going to him. There was no other solution « reacted to weeping Isabelle Corci, alongside her daughter Amber. Seriously injured in the fire, the young woman said herself « Very relieved » by the verdict. « The penalty is up to crimes because the dangerousness of Hicham Abderraouf is such that it would be inconvenient to release it »added his father Alain.
The fire, depicted as very violent and fast, had declared itself on January 20, 2019 shortly after 4 am in the ISBA, a dilapidated residence housing 57 seasonal workers in the upper ski resort. A 32 -year -old woman and a 50 -year -old man had succumbed asphyxiated, and around twenty other people had been injured by defending to escape the flames. Several witnesses had reported smells of petrol in the building before the loss and a firearm had been found nearby.
Tuesday morning, the two defense lawyers had endeavored to demonstrate that the « guilt » of Hicham Abderraouf in this case had been « Artificially constructed » from a « rumor » launched by her ex-girlfriend. The young woman, who worked at the time as a seasonal in Courchevel, lived in the residence destroyed by the fire and had immediately questioned Hicham Abderraouf, before retracting.
This rumor « Propagates very quickly » And the investigation quickly concentrated on this « Ideal guilty »accused the defense lawyers. Of all the protagonists of the evening, Hicham Abderraouf is the only one who did not « Not deviated from an iota » From its original version, said Me Ghais Bencharif.
The survey had however established that he had carried out several car passages during the night in front of the residence, in particular a few minutes before the appearance of the first smoke. He was also present in Courchevel during a previous incident a few weeks earlier, during which gasoline would have already been widespread in front of chamber doors at the ISBA.
« From the first days, the name of Hicham Abderraouf is emerging », and the hypothesis of a voluntary fire « With accelerating products » is favored, the investigation director, Yohan de Ballesto, had explained at the start of the trial. As for the mobile, it could be that « It’s Hicham Abderraouf who decides when a relationship ends and not the other way around »he said.
Arrested and indicted two months after the fire, Hicham Abderraouf had been released in early April 2021 due to a procedural defect. After several adventures and an escape in 2021, it had finally been caught in January 2023 in Malagain Spain, and handed over to the French authorities.
The civil parties will now be attentive to a second trial, expected on June 5 and 6 before the Albertville Criminal Court, which will this time aim for the owner of the building, whose obsolescence contrasts with the luxurious hotels of the station. This owner, a well -known businessman in the station, will have to answer for« Homicide and involuntary injuries » And « Workers’ accommodation in a non -compliant room ».
