The trial of four men accused of having removed the body of a prostitute on the orders of her "boss", herself killed during the fire started to cover the crime scene, was postponed Monday due to the absence of one of the main defendants.

The Paris Assize Court ordered a warrant to bring against Mourad B., who did not appear, "without valid excuse", indicated the president.

The hearing will resume Tuesday morning.

And, if this defendant does not appear, he will be judged by default.

A total of eight people, all currently free, must appear in the context of this file scheduled for three weeks and which had already been returned in May 2021. This same Mourad B. had then sent a positive test for Covid-19.

On August 3, 2016, a huge explosion sounded in the 15th arrondissement of Paris.

The neighbors had seen a young man, seriously injured, with burnt legs and forearms, come out of the building, who had fled.

Mourad B. was subsequently identified.

During their intervention, the firefighters had discovered a charred body, that of Maria-Paz G., a 26-year-old Spaniard, occasionally "escort-girl" and who made other young women work.

Operation Nickel Feet

Thanks to telephone tapping and as the arrests progressed, the police had traced the thread of this affair.

On August 3, 2016, after an argument with one of her prostitutes who threatened to report her to the police, Maria-Paz G. brought in a friend, Moncef D., and offered him 20,000 euros to "get rid of of the young woman.

Moncef D. and a friend, Kamel Z., then agree on a “good plan”.

Make Maria-Paz G. believe that they killed the girl – whom they intend to let go – and recover the money.

But when they go back to the apartment, Maria-Paz G. has already killed the young prostitute with about thirty stab wounds.

The two men take fright and leave the place.

Maria-Paz G. then offers 15,000 euros, this time for the "cleaning up" of the crime scene.

A new operation is mounted, with Mourad B. and three other accomplices.

The "cleaners" try to erase the traces of blood but Maria-Paz G. decides that the fire must be set.

It is then that the flame of a lighter causes an explosion, which will kill the young woman instantly while Mourad B. will be seriously burned.

The latter appears for the fire, and like the other "cleaners", for the concealment of the body and the non-denunciation of the crime.

Another prostitute, who was in the apartment with Maria-Paz G. when she killed the young prostitute, is on trial for complicity in murder.

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  • Justice

  • Paris

  • Court case

  • Prostitution

  • Ile-de-France