Rabat – The Fez Court of Appeals postponed the trial in front of a crowded room today. The first hearing will take place on February 12, 2019.
The reason given was to allow for the preparation of all the necessary documents for this high-profile trial.
Former Head of Government Abdelilah Benkirane was present at the Court of Appeals.
The Hamieddine case took a new turn when three lawyers filed a complaint on December 20 with the Attorney General at the Court of Cassation against the Minister of State for Human Rights, Mustapha Ramid
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The three lawyers criticized the minister’s reaction to the indictment of Hamieddine for “complicity in the murder” of student Mohamed “Benaissa” Ait El Jid in 1993.
In a Facebook post, the minister said he was “staggered” when learned about the new charge against Hamieddine.
Abdelali Hamieddine is being prosecuted for “complicity in the murder” under the provisions of articles 128, 392, 393, 393, 394, and 395 of the Criminal Code.
Haddioui El Khammar, a friend of Benaissa, provided new evidence that had not been examined during the original trial, according to the investigating judge. Originally, Hamieddine was sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment. According to the judge, the testimony justifies further prosecution since the charge is not the same as that of 26 years ago.
