Jean Luc Boujon, edited by Juline Garnier 10:47 a.m., April 05, 2022
Mamadou Diallo was acquitted of the murder of the postwoman of Montreal-la-Cluse in Ain in 2008, in the case known as "the unknown of the post office".
After a week of trial and five hours of deliberation, the jurors found that the guilt of the 32-year-old man was not established and should benefit from the doubt, in spite of the DNA found in two places in the post office.
Mamadou Diallo is free from prison.
Monday evening, the main suspect in the murder of the postwoman of Montreal-la-Cluse in 2008 was acquitted after a week of trial and five hours of deliberation.
A new twist in a case over which the shadow of actor Gérald Thomassin, long suspected but who suddenly disappeared 3 years ago, has not ceased to hover.
Even acquitted, Mamadou Diallo had trouble getting out of his prison in Bourg-en-Bresse.
The fault with administrative complications which almost made him spend an additional night in detention.
An unthinkable extension for his lawyer who has multiplied the steps.
Finally, around 1 a.m., Mamadou Diallo comes out free, welcomed by his family.
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"It's a relief. I still feel sorry for the victim's family. We must not forget that a woman died, killed savagely. But from the start I proclaimed my innocence. Today the justice heard me so I thank them for that", expressed Mamadou Diallo.
"A victory for justice"
"It's the victory of justice," said his lawyer, Sylvie Noachovitch.
"Thank you to these jurors who had the courage to face a hearing that was difficult. What matters today is that justice be done."
>> Find the complete "the unknown of the post office" by Christophe Hondelatte
Mamadou Diallo was therefore acquitted with the benefit of the doubt.
But also because the shadow of Gérald Thomassin, the former actor, drug addict and violent, long suspected in this case before benefiting from a dismissal and disappearing, hovered permanently over the debates.
The relatives of the postwoman are disappointed, explains their lawyer Maître Séverine Debourg: "They are knocked out standing because they absolutely did not expect that at all. And Mamadou Diallo did not convince them of his innocence".
The prosecution has ten days to appeal, which would lead to a second trial.