Six Smugglers Jailed for Manslaughter Over Worst Channel Small Boats Disaster
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By Hugh Schofield in Paris
Published 1 hour ago
Six smugglers jailed for manslaughter over worst Channel small boats disaster
Six people traffickers have been found guilty in France of causing the deaths of 31 migrants in the worst ever small-boat accident in the Channel.
Trial Details
- Duration: Four-week trial
- Location: Paris
- Outcomes:
- Six convicted of "involuntary homicide" with prison terms of 6-10 years.
- Seven received lesser sentences of up to 4 years.
- One person found not guilty.
Incident Overview
The boat sank early morning on November 24, 2021, after sending distress calls to French and British coastguards. The victims, including a 7-year-old child, were mainly Iraqi Kurds but also Afghans, Egyptians, and Iranian Kurds. Only two men survived.
Charge Sheet Allegations
- Boat Condition: The migrants were put to sea in a boat "of poor quality, uncertified, unsuitable for navigation at sea, overloaded, and without correct life jackets."
- Network Organization: The guilty men were part of two separate networks, one Iraqi Kurd and one Afghan, that collaborated to organize the cross-channel journey and bring migrants to the meeting point.
Family Testimony
Unusually, several family members attended the trial at the start, providing moving testimony about the victims.
- Zana Marmand Muhammed shared how his younger brother Twana wanted to go to England for work and a better life.
- Nabi Mustafa Mina described his futile attempts to dissuade his son, Zanyar, from leaving.
Survivor Testimony
One of the two survivors, Issa Omar, shared his experience through a statement read by his lawyer:
"I would have liked to appear before the judge but I do not have the strength. Since the wreck I have the impression that part of me disappeared beneath the waves."
Lawyer's Comment
Matthieu Chirez (lawyer for civil plaintiffs) stated that the verdict brought relief to the families and "humanized" them, confirming the penal responsibility of the traffickers.