A trial has begun in the Bouches-du-Rhône departmental criminal court for two Algerian nationals accused of gang rape and violent theft following a brutal attack on two business school students in 2021.
On the night of Sept. 3, 2021, Arnaud and Sophie, two students enjoying an evening at the Sports Beach Club in Marseille, were violently assaulted as they left the venue to smoke a cigarette on the beachfront.
According to their testimony, they were accosted by two men on the bench who overpowered Arnaud, forcing his head into the sand and seawater. As La Provence reports, the assailants are accused of stealing the watches, mobile phones, and wallets of their victims before turning to Sophie.
Dragged to an isolated pier at Escale Borely, she was pinned down and raped by both attackers while Arnaud was held at knifepoint, unable to intervene. The court heard how the assailants argued in Arabic following the attack, which the prosecution suggested was about what to do with their victims, before fleeing the scene.
The suspects were identified by substantial DNA evidence found on Sophie’s underwear as Icham Merouane and Mohamed Benalou. Both men were living in France illegally and were subsequently arrested.
Three years later, the accused are now standing trial.
Merouane, after initially providing investigators with conflicting accounts — including a claim that his sperm had been acquired by police after a night with a prostitute to fabricate evidence — eventually admitted to rape and theft.
Benalou, however, has denied any involvement, even claiming not to know either the victims or Merouane despite the incriminating DNA evidence and accusations from his co-defendant.
Sophie, deeply traumatized by the attack, has chosen not to be present at the trial, stating that confronting her attackers is unbearable despite her strong desire for justice.
“She wants the truth to be established and for the guilty to be severely punished for having unjustly crushed and destroyed part of our lives,” a source close to the victim expressed in a statement.
Arnaud, who did attend court to provide his testimony, expressed his regret at being unable to help his friend. As a former rugby player, he has since taken up boxing following the attack.
The trial continues.
