Two Algerian men accused of abducting and raping a woman in Toulouse in September 2022, before leaving her naked on the roadside, appeared before the Assize Court on Monday to answer for their alleged crimes.
Both men are charged with kidnapping, extortion with a weapon, and arbitrary detention with release under seven days.
As reported by Actu Toulouse, the victim, referred to as Mélanie, was returning home to the Pech-David district of the city after a date on the evening of Sept. 24, 2022, when she was approached by two strangers as she got out of her vehicle. They pointed what appeared to be a firearm at her, ordered her back into the car, and drove away with her.
The defendants, Abdelkader G. and Mohamed M., were aged 18 and 20 at the time. The weapon was later identified as a replica. Lawyers for Abdelkader G. state that the initial intent was to steal the vehicle, but that the pair continued with the abduction out of fear she would alert authorities.
The car stopped later that night on Chemin des Étroits near the Garonne River. According to investigators, Mélanie, believed to be in her 30s, was ordered to undress under threat of the gun and was forced to perform oral sex on Abdelkader G. before being abandoned by the roadside.
A passing motorcyclist found her and alerted the authorities. She was taken to hospital and prescribed ten days of medical leave.
DNA collected from a medical examination of the victim linked investigators to Abdelkader G. He was arrested days later while driving the victim’s car in Toulouse’s Saint-Michel district, and his alleged accomplice was detained shortly after.
The men face the same charges, but Abdelkader G additionally faces charges of rape at gunpoint.
The primary defendant, now 21, is known to authorities for drug trafficking offenses. He arrived in France from Algeria in 2016 at the age of 12 as an unaccompanied minor. He experienced lengthy periods in foster care and juvenile detention. His parents are in prison in Algeria.
According to French media, his lawyer confirms that he admits to the acts and acknowledges that the combination of offenses could result in a life sentence.
The post France: Woman abducted, raped and left naked on roadside near Toulouse, 2 Algerians now face trial appeared first on Remix News.
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