Friday, after a trial of a week, the jury of the Paris Assize Court, returned a verdict of 25 years prison whose 2/3 firm against the Haitian gang leader of "chimères" Amaral Duclona, aka "Berthone Jolicoeur" accused of kidnapping, sequestration and died January 7, 2004, of Claude Bernard Lauture, a Franco-Haitian entrepreneur, opponent of the regime of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11174-haiti-justice-opening-in-france-of-the-trial-of-a-gang-leader-of-chimeres.html

After nearly two hours of closing arguments, the Advocate General Philippe Courroye required 25 years imprisonment without minimum sentence, recalling that the jury "[...] will have to sanctioning the dangerousness of this man, bloody gang leader. And across borders and oceans, send a strong message to all those who despise life, tell them that sooner or later, comes the hour of justice and that they will have to answer for their acts." The message has been received, since after deliberation the jury was even more severe than the request of the attorney general by imposing a minimum sentence of 2/3 (without the possibility of conditional release).

The widow of Bernard Lauture, Marie-Louise Michelle, at the origin of the complaint which led to the holding of this trial she is satisfy of the verdict but regretted the lack of involvement of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Recall that in her testimony before the court she declared "I am convinced that removal of my husband was remotely controlled by Jean-Bertrand Aristide and executed by Amaral Duclona." https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11195-haiti-justice-second-day-of-trial-for-amaral-duclona.html

The defense of Duclona pleaded acquittal, highlighting the shortcomings and weaknesses of the Haitian police investigation on which based the French instruction and the lack of Haitian witnesses, which have not responded to the convening of the Assize Court.

A defense swept by the Advocate General has demonstrated that the case had brought "overwhelming and irrefutable evidence" proving the involvement of Amaral Duclona in the kidnapping, the sequestration and death of the businessman Bernard Lauture. For the General Advocate this crime has a political motive saying that "the shadow of power of former President Aristide plane on this kidnapping, the gang of Duclona being his armed wing."

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11195-haiti-justice-second-day-of-trial-for-amaral-duclona.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11174-haiti-justice-opening-in-france-of-the-trial-of-a-gang-leader-of-chimeres.html

SL/ HaitiLibre