A court in Berrechid has issued its verdict in the widely followed case of “Little Ghita,” a young girl who suffered severe injuries after being struck by a vehicle on Sidi Rahal beach earlier this summer.
The court acquitted the defendant of altering the scene of the accident but found him guilty of all other charges. He was sentenced to 10 months in prison and fined 500 dirhams for illegally driving a vehicle onto the beach’s sand dunes.
In the civil case, the court ordered the defendant to pay 400,000 dirhams (approximately $40,000) in compensation to the victim’s family. The insurance company was excluded from the proceedings. The court granted a 10-day period for appeal following its decision.
The case took a significant turn after the court reviewed a medical report prepared by court-appointed forensic expert Dr. Noureddine Hilal at the request of the girl’s family.
According to the report, the incident, which occurred on June 15, 2025, left the child with a fractured skull on the right frontal side. The injury caused pressure on the brain’s frontal lobe and a hematoma between the bone and outer cortex, requiring emergency surgery to reconstruct the bone and relieve pressure.
The report also detailed multiple injuries, including a deep scalp wound, facial and hand abrasions, a torn eyelid that required fine stitching, and a loss of consciousness upon arrival at the hospital.
The child was diagnosed with a temporary total disability lasting 120 days and a permanent partial disability of 80 percent. She now requires round-the-clock care and suffers from behavioral disorders, sudden crying episodes, involuntary urination, and insomnia.
Long-term medical and psychological treatment has been recommended, in addition to physical and cognitive rehabilitation therapy.
During the trial, the defendant’s attorney argued that the incident was “an act of fate, not a criminal offense,” highlighting that the defendant did not flee the scene and personally transported the child to the hospital.
The defense also denied any intent to alter the scene or cause harm and requested leniency, describing the defendant as a young man just starting out in life.
The defense further attempted to shift some responsibility to local authorities, stating that no signage had been placed to prevent vehicle access to the beach. The lawyer emphasized that the defendant held a valid driver’s license and that the vehicle involved was insured.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.