TESTIMONY
Bilal, Lamia's son was 18 years old when he was killed during a narcotics transaction that went wrong. The murderer of his son was not arrested since he was able to flee to Chechnya. The latter then sent videos on social networks where he insulted Lamia and those who defended her. At the microphone of "La Libre antenne", on Europe 1, Lamia tells Olivier Delacroix the evening of the death of her son and her mourning journey.
>> Listen to Lamia's testimony in full here
"I live in Angers and I am from Tétouan in Morocco. I am a mother. I always say that I have five children. We had left a sensitive neighborhood to live in a quiet neighborhood. It was Saturday 7 A normal day in January 2017. Bilal, my eldest son, was to attend the wedding of a friend of his that evening. He went out. The day passed, Bilal did not come home. felt like I was stabbed in the gut, my maternal instinct. I went to lie down, I was not feeling well.
" I saw my son's blood on the ground "At 10 p.m., my second son received a message saying, "We shot your brother. Tell your parents to go to the emergency room." I left my last three little ones and went to the emergency room in a nightgown. We were made to wait three quarters of an hour. I was calm. I thought he had been shot in the arm or the foot. The doctors arrived, they were silent. They said to us: "Our condolences, your son is dead. We could not save him".
My husband started to cry and howl. I begged the doctor so that I could see my hot son before he entered the morgue. He was very harsh and said to me: "It is a homicide, you are not allowed to see it". I did not see Bilal that evening. Before going home, we went to the scene of the drama. I saw the security perimeter and my son's blood on the ground. It's horrible. I was crying, but I thought it was a nightmare and I was going to wake up.
" The street becomes your second mom "The hardest part was announcing it to the last three. Bilal was their adored big brother. I will always remember, they hid their faces in the covers so that I did not see them cry. On Tuesday, I finally received permission to see my son in the morgue. I was soothed to see Bilal handsome and smiling. It's hard to say goodbye to her 18-year-old son. I went to Morocco to bury my son. I stayed there 40 days according to traditions.
Bilal never went to prison. I gave my children the education my parents gave me. But in some neighborhoods, the street becomes your second mom. My son was not a saint, he made little bullshit. The street is bad traffic and easy money. Every mother is afraid for her child. I was watching him at home. I know he started smoking some cannabis.
" The assassin insulted me on social networks "I came back to France and I finally learned what had really happened. I learned that the assassin had managed to escape. There were two of Chechen origin. The assassin managed to get to Grozny. The assassin's accomplice spent a year in prison and was released under judicial supervision. The assassin could have fled and kept quiet, but he insulted me on social networks. He sent videos where he made fingers of honor which were addressed to me. He made a video where he insulted the people who stood up for me.
I learned that my son brought back 4 kilograms of cannabis mixed with paraffin. They wanted to get ripped off. The assassin came from Le Mans with a gun and counterfeit bills. They fought in the car. I read the autopsy report. They smashed Bilal's head, which started bleeding. They were boxers. They shot and killed my son. I saw my son's blood on the night of January 7 to 8, 2017.
>> Find Olivier Delacroix's Free Antenna in replay and podcast here
When I returned from Morocco, I stayed in bed for almost five months. I got up for Bilal, to take care of my children and to try to resume a normal life, even if it is impossible. On Tuesday January 10, at the morgue, I promised Bilal to do everything to have the assassin arrested. It was a promise from mom, I couldn't keep it. Every night, I imagine the scene. We survive, but they cut us off. I created an association, "We are all Bilal", which does prevention on the dangers of the street. "