La Crème café case in Marrakech: Death sentences upheld for the main defendants

The court confirmed the death sentences handed down against the two main defendants, Gabriel I. and Shardion J., thereby upholding the decision issued at first instance.

However, the Court reexamined the sentences imposed on the other defendants and opted for reductions. Jamal T. saw his sentence reduced to nine years in prison instead of ten, while his brother Abdel Nasser was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment, compared with ten previously.

The manager of the “La Crème” café, the site of the deadly attack, also benefited from a reduced sentence, which was cut from fifteen to ten years in prison. The same outcome applied to Mohamed F., whose sentence was set at five years of effective imprisonment instead of the eight years initially imposed.

For the record, the Marrakech Court of Appeal had already confirmed in January 2023 the verdict delivered in July 2019 by the court of first instance, which had sentenced the two Dutch nationals to death.

The defendants were prosecuted on multiple charges, notably premeditated murder with ambush, attempted murder, deliberate arson of a vehicle, possession and use of firearms without authorization, forming a criminal gang, receiving a two wheeled vehicle obtained through a crime, as well as various offences related to drugs, alcohol, road safety and the destruction of public property.

This decision closes a new judicial chapter in a case that has become emblematic of the fight against organized crime in Morocco.

Editorial team/le7tv