In an irregular situation and unable to work legally, illegal migrants (harraga) can only do odd jobs “in black” in order to earn a little money, enough to survive abroad.
Most sell cigarettes on the street, where each occupies an area or a street, and often it turns sour between the different vendors, despite being compatriots.
It was December 2, around 6 a.m. in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges (Val-de-Marne) where an Algerian man was killed. Several stab wounds took the life of the latter. Stabbed, the deceased had sores on the thigh, face, back, and between the shoulder blades. Khaled, reports the French newspaper Actu 17, was a cigarette salesman.
The body of the 40-year-old was discovered by a passer-by, as Khaled’s body lay in a pool of blood, the passer-by quickly called for help who went to the scene with the police a little later. Having no papers with him, his identity could not be found until his brother, alerted by word of mouth, came to the police station.
Betrayed by his own
The investigation revealed that the murder was allegedly committed following a fight that started in a squat and ended in the streets. Indeed, Khaled lived with three other young Algerians, all in an irregular situation. Origin of the dispute? the sale of cigarettes. One of these Algerians reveals the identity of the other two after the arrest of the police who surrendered to the famous “squat”.
On December 9, the police arrested the two other squatters, now suspects in this affair. The Algerians, aged 17 and 18, were taken into police custody. The suspects deny any involvement, far or near, in this murder. The teenagers, unknown to the police, confirm a conflict with the victim over the sale of cigarettes.
The two were indicted and imprisoned pending further analysis providing more information essential for the continuation of this case, including tests of blood found on the body of the victim.
