Car dealer goes on trial for a 1995 murder
Published: Friday, Nov 29th 2024, 10:10
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The murder of an Egyptian diplomat in the underground car park of his Geneva apartment building in 1995 has been a mystery for years. Thanks to advances in the analysis of DNA traces and fingerprints, the case will be brought before the Federal Criminal Court on Monday. In the dock are a car salesman and a woman accused of being an accessory.
On the evening of November 13, 1995, an employee of the Egyptian mission's commercial office in Geneva was shot in the chest and abdomen with six pistol shots. In addition to the bullets and bullet casings, investigators found a homemade silencer at the scene of the crime, which had been made from the foam of car headrests and adhesive tape. There was a fingerprint on it.
For more than 20 years, police investigations remained unsuccessful until 2018, when a car salesman who is accused of rape and assault came to the attention of the judiciary.
The 55-year-old Italian-Ivorian citizen, who has been convicted several times in France and Switzerland, is accused by the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) of firing the shots at the Egyptian. A Swiss-Italian dual national, who is suspected of having been involved in the manufacture of the silencer, is standing trial alongside him.
Client unknown
According to the scenario reconstructed by the investigators, the accused allegedly used the passing of the diplomat's car to slip through the automatic garage door. He then allegedly followed the victim and shot him with a Sig Sauer 9 mm caliber pistol.
The defendants are facing charges of murder and accessory to murder. So far, the alleged perpetrator is said to have disclosed neither his clients nor the amount of money he is said to have received.
Other offenses
The 55-year-old is also charged with rape, assault and threatening a former partner. During an argument with a third party, he allegedly said: "Next time I'll kill you like the others."
In addition, videos showing scenes of torture and hardcore pornography were found on the defendant's cell phone. The films were presumably recorded in Africa.
The accused must also answer for unauthorized recording of conversations, as he recorded no fewer than 87 telephone conversations without the consent of the other party. These included several police officers.
In connection with his work as a car dealer, the defendant is facing charges including fraud and fraudulent mismanagement. He is alleged to have faked traffic accidents in order to collect insurance benefits. He is also accused of several traffic offenses - in particular driving without a driver's license.
The trial begins on Monday. It will then continue on December 9 and the following days. The verdict is scheduled for January 27, 2025.
The BA will announce the requested penalties as part of the main proceedings. (Case SK.2024.47)
©Keystone/SDA
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