Corpse cut into pieces in Moselle: a marginalized person sentenced to 30 years in prison

The Moselle Assize Court sentenced a marginalized man to 30 years in prison on Friday for the 2022 murder of Moustafa Adbib, a disabled worker whose body was found cut into pieces .

The sentence against Djalal Bouguettouche, accused of murder and injuring the body of his victim, includes a two-thirds security period, as requested by Attorney General Agnès Cordier.

Mr. Bouguettouche's defense attorney had earlier argued for acquittal. "Simply because he is known to be aggressive and vehement, Djalal Bouguettouche allegedly killed Moustafa Adbib," said José Fernandez, emphasizing that this was based "solely on the statements" of two other marginalized individuals.

The events took place on December 10, 2022, behind closed doors in an apartment in Woippy (Moselle).

For the attorney general, one element is clearly established: "The presence of these four men alone in this apartment. However, of the three, two of them - Julien Michel and Philippe Lopes - give the same version: Djalal Bouguettouche beat Moustafa Adbib to death, for no apparent reason."

Three days later, the latter's body was found mutilated in the Moselle River, at the Argancy dam, north of Metz. He was cut into pieces, his two thighs separated, and his femurs severed. His face showed significant traumatic injuries and his neck showed signs of strangulation. Mr. Bouguettouche has maintained his innocence from the start, referring to "a conspiracy."

In addition to the statements of his two co-accused, Djalal Bouguettouche's attitude after the disappearance of Moustafa Adbib raised questions: "his lack of empathy and search for his so-called 'father of the heart'," noted Agnès Cordier, while recalling "the conclusions of the experts reporting his tendency towards impulsiveness and violence."

For the attorney general, the victim was "in a relationship of control" with regard to Mr. Bouguettouche who "imposed himself in the victim's life like a parasite that devoured her."

Moustafa Adbib, 54, was a disabled man described as "kind and harmless." Philippe Lopes, accused of failing to assist a person in danger and failing to report a crime, was sentenced to two years in prison with a committal warrant.

Julien Michel, who, according to his statements, was forced by Bouguettouche to cut up the body, was acquitted. The public prosecutor had requested a one-year prison sentence for him, accusing him of violating the integrity of the body and concealing it.