Rabat – The grief-stricken family of the late student Badr, who met a tragic fate in an intentional hit-and-run crime last July, are resolutely demanding justice for their son.
The incident took place on July 30 in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant in Casablanca, where the perpetrator intentionally assaulted and deliberately ran over and killed the victim.
Today, the Casablanca Court of Appeals decided to delay the case proceedings until January. The courtroom was packed with the victim’s family, friends, and loved ones who attended the first trial session for the main suspect and his accomplices.
In a statement to the press following the session, Badr’s mother revealed that she is facing pressure from the main suspect’s family to withdraw charges against him.
“They offered money and properties, and even sent intermediaries,” she said.
Despite this, she strongly affirmed her commitment to pursuing justice for her son and insisted on seeking the death penalty for the main suspect.
“He [the suspect] is a tyrant, not an ordinary human. I demand retribution … the death penalty … so that their son dies as my son did, for them to feel the pain I felt,” the mother added.
Badr’s case sparked widespread outrage across the country after a video of the incident circulated online. The video showed the moment a fight erupted between Badr and his friends and the five suspects.
One of the individuals hit Badr in the head, leaving him unconscious on the ground. While the victim’s friends were trying to assist him, the perpetrator ran them over with his car and immediately fled the scene with his friends.
Read also: Casablanca Prosecutor Clarifies Misinformation Surrounding Badr’s Case
Days later, police were able to track down the main suspect’s location and arrested him in the southern city of Laayoune.
In the wake of Badr’s murder, Moroccan social media users launched an online campaign demanding justice for Badr and calling for the perpetrator, who had been involved in similar cases, to be held accountable.
It has come to light that the suspect was involved in another case of hit-and-run, where he ran over and killed two individuals. Reports suggested that he managed to evade accountability due to his family’s financial influence.
The five suspects are facing charges of forming a criminal gang, premeditated murder, intentional assault using deadly weapons, premeditated robbery, aiding the escape of a fugitive from justice, and failure to report a crime.
