The defense argued that A. absolutely did not have the upper hand when the police intervened. “That woman even bent that rod on my client. He was taken to the hospital, the others were not,” said master Nadia Lorenzetti. The defense therefore requested that the facts be reclassified as intentional assault and battery. The defendant agreed to probation conditions so that he can tackle his cocaine addiction. “I have made mistakes, but give me a chance. I really want to work again,” was his last word.
The court ruled that there was no premeditation. For attempted manslaughter, Houssam A. was sentenced to two years in prison, of which only the almost seven months of pretrial detention was effective. The defendant will have to comply with a series of conditions in the coming years.