In the south of the island, one of the three arrested minors is suspected of an attempted murder of Morgane, the 14-year-old girl, who was found injured on Monday after two days of disappearance. The other two are also involved. What do the suspects risk?
This Wednesday, April 20, three teenagers, aged 14 and 15, were brought before a judge in the afternoon at the end of their detention at the Saint-Pierre police station. One of the three arrested minors is suspected of an assassination attempt on Morgane.
The 14-year-old girl was found Monday evening in Saint-Pierre, in the heights of the Holy Land, two days after her disappearance. Her vital prognosis is no longer concerned, but she still has serious head injuries.
The prosecution has seized the investigating judge for the offenses of attempted murder, i.e. premeditated murder, a crime punishable by life imprisonment. Tonight, the Attorney of Saint-Pierre, Caroline Calbo, explains that: “Only one of the three minors was involved in the violent blows to the victim’s head”.
“For the other two complicity is intended, she adds. If not, these two minors could also be charged with not helping a person in danger, a crime that carries a five-year prison sentence).
Pre-trial detention is required for the three minors. “Given their young age, the debates should take place behind closed doors and at a very late hour,” adds the prosecutor.
The teens were stuck, two since Monday night and the last since yesterday, “because the facts are extremely serious”† explains Maître Julie Daguenet, lawyer at Georges-André Hoarau’s office.
For minors, custody is not the same as for adults. “The presence of the lawyer is obligatory, complete Master Daguenet† The parents are notified and can attend the guardianship.
“Just because you’re a minor doesn’t mean you can’t be criminally responsible,” continues Master Daguenet. “In criminal law, attempted murder is punished as severely as the crime”adds the lawyer. Here too, there are two aggravating circumstances: the victim is younger than 15 and the offenses were committed in a meeting. They therefore risk life imprisonment. But they will benefit from what is called the minority excuse: Since they are under 16, their sentence is reduced to at least the maximum of 20 years.
Watch the report of Réunion la 1ère:
When the sentence is pronounced, the minors are placed in detention centers in rooms specially equipped for minors. There is no small/big mix. There is also a special court for minors behind closed doors.
