Strasbourg attack trial: the prosecution demands 30 years of imprisonment for the main accused

Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credits: Benoit PEYRUCQ / AFP 6:46 p.m., April 2, 2024

The national anti-terrorism prosecution has requested 30 years of imprisonment, with a two-thirds security period, against the main accused of the Christmas market attack in December 2018.

A sentence of thirty years' imprisonment, accompanied by a two-thirds security period, was requested on Tuesday against Audrey Mondjehi, the main accused in the trial for the attack on the Strasbourg Christmas market in 2018. Although he claims to be "deaf, blind, mute and amnesiac", the 42-year-old accused was the "more than zealous intermediary" of the jihadist Chérif Chekatt, whose attack left 5 dead and 11 injured on December 11, 2018, castigated the national anti-terrorism prosecution (Pnat) before the Paris Assize Court.

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The attacker, who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) organization, was killed by the police after two days of tracking. Audrey Mondjehi, who admitted to having helped him obtain weapons, is on trial for complicity in assassinations and attempted assassinations in connection with a terrorist enterprise.

“Five years in prison against two other accused” required by the Pnat

He explained in substance during the debates that he was unaware of the radicalization of his "friend", and that he had acted to "do him a favor", because he thought that Chérif Chekatt wanted to commit a robbery. Arguments swept aside by the prosecution, for whom "all the elements demonstrate that he could not have known" that the jihadist was preparing an attack.

The Pnat also requested five years in prison against two other defendants, who appear free after having spent two years and eighteen months in pre-trial detention. They are also accused of playing an intermediary role, but of less importance, in helping Chérif Chekatt to obtain weapons.

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- Four men tried for the attack on the Strasbourg Christmas market in 2018

Two weapons sold but not used in the attack

One of them, Frédéric B., “knowingly chose to be the link between the buyer and the seller (of the weapon), although he did not want the act terrorist", according to the prosecution. The other, Christian H., admitted to having sold Chérif Chekatt, through Audrey Mondjehi, two weapons which were not used in the attack.

A fourth accused, Stéphane B., was also prosecuted alongside his brother Frédéric for having put together the seller and the buyer of the weapon used by Chérif Chekatt on the evening of the killing. The debates, however, established that he was not present on the day of this connection. The prosecution requested his acquittal. The man spent 14 months in pre-trial detention.