The preliminary hearing for the Ramy case begins, the family members: 'We civil parties'

The preliminary hearing on the case of Ramy Elgaml, the 19-year-old who died on 24 November 2024 in the crash of the scooter driven by his friend Fares Bouzidi, 23, after a chase by the police for around eight kilometres, has begun on the seventh floor of the Palace of Justice in Milan.

Accused, among others, are the carabiniere Antonio Lenoci, who was driving the last pursuing car, accused of vehicular homicide with "culpable excess in the performance of duty", and Bouzidi also for complicity in vehicular homicide. The corridor where the hearing is being held was closed, prohibiting access to journalists, also because the magistrate is judge Tiziana Landoni, who released Youssef Siher, the creator of the "October 17 Movement", recipient of threats on the web and ended up under protection with forms of surveillance, i.e. strengthened controls around her home and in the places she frequented. Above all, the leaders of the court and the investigating judge's office want to prevent anyone from taking images of the judge on the sidelines of the hearing.

Following the investigations by prosecutors Giancarla Serafini and Marco Cirigliano, six other carabinieri are also accused, accused in various capacities of aiding and abetting, misdirection and forgery in the arrest report of Ramy's friend, an accusation for which Lenoci is also responsible. Ramy's family members are present in the courtroom, including his father and mother, with the lawyer Barbara Indovina. They will ask to take civil action against all the accused carabinieri, but only for the other alleged crimes and not for the road homicide, because the family has already been compensated by the insurance.

Some defendants are also present in the courtroom and a military union has also asked to enter as a civil party. The lawyers Debora Piazza and Marco Romagnoli, on behalf of Bouzidi, will request the establishment of a civil party against all the carabinieri and to cite the Ministry of Defense as civilly liable for any damages.

The family members: 'We civil parties against the seven accused carabinieri'

Ramy's parents and brother have asked to appear as civil parties against the seven accused carabinieri, for recognition of the damages suffered. It emerged from the preliminary hearing underway in Milan. In particular, Ramy's family members (present in the courtroom), through the lawyer Barbara Indovina, have asked to join as civil parties for the crimes contested by the prosecutors of aiding and abetting, misdirection and forgery in the arrest report of Ramy's friend, a charge for which Lenoci is also responsible.

In total, therefore, against the seven accused carabinieri. While they did not ask to be civil parties for the charge of complicity in vehicular homicide contested against Lenoci and Bouzidi, also because the family has already been compensated by the insurance. Bouzidi's lawyers, Debora Piazza and Marco Romagnoli, have asked that the 23-year-old be a civil party against all the carabinieri accused of crimes, in various capacities, of road injuries (contested in Lenoci), misdirection, aiding and abetting and false arrest reports.

Now the defendants' lawyers will express their opinion on the requests for civil action (the prosecutors did not oppose) and it seems that, in any case, they are only raising questions on the request for a military union. Then, the preliminary hearing judge will have to decide on the civil parties.