Justice has chosen prevention rather than repression in a recent case involving nine young men guilty of extortion with weapons committed on prostitutes. On Friday, the Moselle juvenile court handed down prison sentences ranging from two years suspended to one year. The trial was conducted peacefully, allowing everyone to understand the extent of their responsibilities, according to Ulysse Gobert, lawyer for one of the minors.
The sentences are particularly appropriate, aiming to guide these young adults on the right path. Three of the defendants will serve their prison sentences using an electronic bracelet. The attorney general had initially requested sentences ranging from one to six years of imprisonment, which were deemed 'particularly severe' by the defense lawyers.
Between January and November 2020, the accused committed eight armed extortions using a consistent modus operandi. One of the perpetrators would pose as a client and make an appointment online with a prostitute. Once in the apartment, he would relay all necessary information to his accomplices hidden in the corridor. After he left, the masked and armed accomplices would attack the victim to mainly extort money.
As the attacks progressed, the robbers escalated their violence, moving from tear gas bombs and tasers to kitchen knives and replicas of semi-automatic weapons. In one particularly violent incident, a prostitute was shaved. The victims were elderly, worked alone, and were of foreign nationality, which reduced the risk of complaints. Only one of them became a civil party.
The convicts, minors at the time of the events, were born between 2002 and 2003. Only one had a prior criminal record for acts of degradation, narcotics use, and refusal to comply. Most of them were educated in the same high school in Metz. Psychologists who examined the attackers cited multiple motivations for their actions, including greed, academic disinvestment, a desire to break free from parental control, and group dynamics. Psychiatrists emphasized that ongoing support would be essential to prevent recurrence.
- The trial has been noted for its peaceful proceedings, which allowed all parties to fully understand their responsibilities. This approach has been praised for its focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
- The consistent modus operandi of the extortions highlights a premeditated and organized effort by the young men. Their choice of victims—elderly, foreign, and working alone—indicates a calculated attempt to minimize the risk of legal repercussions.
- The psychological assessments of the convicts revealed a complex web of motivations behind their criminal actions. The emphasis on group dynamics and a desire for independence from parental control suggests that these young men were influenced significantly by their social environment.
