HIBAPRESS – Casablanca
The Casablanca Court of Appeal concluded, this evening, one of the most heinous criminal cases that shook national public opinion, after it ruled to sentence the accused, known in the media as the "Sidi Hajjaj Butcher," to death, who was convicted of premeditated murder, accompanied by mutilation and concealment of the bodies.
This ruling came after marathon sessions that witnessed a thorough review of the investigation proceedings, and an extensive discussion of the various evidence and clues, from the accused's confessions, technical and scientific reports, in addition to the testimonies of witnesses and observations of the crime scene, which revealed the seriousness and brutality of the criminal acts committed. The case's chapters go back to the disappearance of a number of victims in the Sidi Hajjaj area and its surroundings, before the intensive security investigations initiated by the judicial police led to the arrest of the accused, and revealed his involvement in serial murders that shook the local population and caused a state of shock and widespread condemnation. The Public Prosecution had charged the accused with serious charges, including premeditated murder, mutilation of corpses, and concealing the traces of the crime, charges that the court considered proven against him, based on the facts of the case and the evidence it contained. This ruling is a strong message about the severity of Moroccan justice in the face of serious crimes that affect the right to life and community security, and embodies the judiciary's keenness to protect society and do justice to the victims, in full respect for the guarantees of a fair trial.
