The prosecutors insist: 'An expert opinion on the Ramy case is an evidentiary incident'

Only the report of a "third party" expert appointed by the judge, with the formula of the evidentiary hearing, could resolve differences and points of conflict in the "distinct reconstructions". Those of the biased consultancies on the dynamics of the accident in which Ramy Elgaml, aged 19, lost his life on 24 November 2024, in the crash of the scooter driven by his friend Fares Bouzidi, 23 years old, after a chase by the police that lasted around eight kilometres.

The Milan Prosecutor's Office tries again, after two requests rejected by a investigating judge. Today, when the preliminary hearing began, with the crime of vehicular manslaughter at its centre, before the preliminary hearing judge Tiziana Landoni, the prosecutors Giancarla Serafini and Marco Cirigliano announced to the judge that they will present a new request, which follows the previous ones on the "necessity" of the expert opinion. Pointing out that in September a final consultancy from Bouzidi's defense was added, complete with a 3D reconstruction. And with which the lawyers Debora Piazza and Marco Romagnoli strengthen their line of voluntary homicide and ramming. The preliminary hearing, behind closed doors as per the code, took place with the external corridor armored to prevent access to reporters and anyone from taking photos or videos of judge Landoni, who suffered online threats after releasing Youssef Siher of the "October 17 Movement" from prison and is under protection with increased supervision.

Among the accused are the carabiniere Antonio Lenoci, who was driving the last pursuing car, accused of vehicular homicide but with "culpable excess in the performance of duty", and Bouzidi for complicity in vehicular homicide. But also six other carabinieri accused, for various reasons, of aiding and abetting, misdirection and forgery in the 23-year-old's arrest report, the latter accusation for which Lenoci is also responsible. "I would only like truth and justice for Ramy, who is always present with me, with us", explained Yehia Elgaml, the father present at the hearing alongside his mother and brother, in a calm voice. Their lawyer, Barbara Indovina, requested and obtained for them to be constituted as civil parties against the seven soldiers, for the recognition of damages, for the crimes of aiding and abetting, misdirection and forgery. Not for the road homicide, also because the family members have already been compensated by the scooter's insurance. For the Elgaml family - who do not pursue the line of voluntary homicide - it was, as clarified by the lawyer, a "tragedy", but the truth about what happened after the accident must be ascertained, with the investigations apparently being sidetracked.

The lawyers of the 23-year-old defendant also managed to have him join as a civil party against the police for various crimes of injury, misdirection, aiding and abetting and forgery. And they obtained a summons from the Ministry of Defense as civilly liable for any damages (the lawyers will be able to request exclusion and the preliminary hearing judge will have to decide). According to prosecutors, Carabiniere Lenoci maintained "a distance and speed that were unsuitable to prevent any collisions". He acted "in the performance of a duty", but then "culpably exceeded" with "disproportionate driving conduct". Lenoci's defense, with lawyers Roberto Borgogno and Arianna Dutto, disputes that he had any fault. For the Bouzidi defense, however, there was more than one collision, not just one in the final phase of the chase. All issues, according to the prosecutors, to be resolved with an expert opinion that would take more than 60 days in the process. It will be discussed on December 21st and then the judge will have to decide whether to order it or not.