2023-07-07 11:43:00
New phase in the trial of the Brussels attacks. After 7 months of trial, the jurors begin to deliberate today. Thursday evening, the 10 defendants were able to speak for the last time. But Salah Abdeslam did not want to speak.
At 10 p.m. on Thursday evening, the convoy with the 12 effective jurors and the 15 substitute jurors left the vigilante in Haren for an undisclosed location. A few minutes earlier, it was time for the last words of the 10 defendants. Mohamed Abrini and Osama Krayem remained silent, as did Salah Abdeslam. “I have nothing to add”said the latter.
“It’s a little sad following seven months of trial, following so many testimonies from the victims. I think they might have shown a little respect”believes Maryse Alié, the lawyer for civil parties.
“The last words, it must be something spontaneous. If he does not feel it, it is his strictest right”, says Delphine Paci, Salah Abdeslam’s lawyer.
Sofien Ayari, arrested at the same time as Salah Abdeslam on March 18, 2016, addressed the jurors and asked to take into account the context of the war in Syria. “I am not asking for it as a mitigating circumstance. (…) I did not come to kill people because their way of life does not suit me. What pushed me to leave Syria was what I saw there,… in the face of which we are powerless, in the face of which we are not prepared. That’s what changed something in my mind, in my way of thinking”, did he declare.
He continued: “The people who came to testify, it showed me a sadness that I had already seen in Syria. It broke my heart. I wish them the greatest courage.”
“I will say that Ayari spoke with his heart and well. The man is worth it. There may be a way to still do something with him”added Xavier Carrette, the lawyer of an accused.
Defendants who, on several occasions, took advantage of their last speech before the Court to ask for forgiveness from the victims.
“I sincerely apologize to those who have lost a loved one, to those who have been hurt, bruised and to those who have been psychologically shocked. I am not proud to be in this box”said Hervé Bayingana.
“I hope this will not happen once more because I did not think of the victims before the trial but to see them here testifying, it is impossible not to think regarding it. I apologize.”ajouté Bilal El Makhouki.
“What is clear is that they all regret what they have done. They have shown very clearly that terrorism is a dead end,” continued Guillaume Lys, the association’s lawyer. of V-Europe victims.
“They said what they thought and above all the fact that they became aware of the seriousness of the facts by listening to the victims. This is an important result that they did not have in Paris, but here in Brussels”, underlines Vincent Lurquin, the lawyer of an accused.
The deliberation begins. For two to three weeks, the jurors will be completely cut off from the world. They must answer 287 questions.
Trial of the Brussels bombings
1688738943
#broke #heart #add #words #defendants #trial #Brussels #attacks
