The Murder of Badr Bouljoihel

The killing

Badr Bouljoihel, a 23-year-old doctoral student, was killed in Casablanca on the night of July 30, 2023 after a confrontation involving two groups at a fast-food restaurant in the Aïn Diab area.

Contemporary reporting states that the confrontation continued into the parking area and that Badr was deliberately struck by a vehicle after being assaulted. Video from the scene became central to the public and judicial record. This page does not reproduce the footage or graphic descriptions.

Arrests and prosecution

The principal suspect and other alleged participants fled Casablanca after the killing. Moroccan reporting states that police located and arrested members of the group in Laâyoune following a coordinated investigation.

Five defendants were prosecuted on charges that included premeditated murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery and related offenses. The precise legal responsibility of each defendant differed, and the judgments imposed sharply different penalties.

First-instance judgment

On April 16, 2024, the criminal chamber of the Casablanca Court of Appeal, sitting at first instance for serious criminal cases, convicted the principal defendant, Achraf R., of premeditated murder and related crimes and sentenced him to death.

Other defendants received life imprisonment and fixed prison terms of 25, 20 and 5 years. Moroccan outlets reported civil compensation orders for Badr's family and other claimants.

Appeal remained active in 2026

The 2024 judgment did not end the litigation. Appellate proceedings continued through 2025 and 2026, with repeated hearings and procedural adjournments.

On June 11, 2026, Moroccan reporting stated that the appellate criminal chamber postponed the case again, this time to July 8, 2026. Earlier 2026 hearings also addressed disputed statements by defendants and defense requests concerning witnesses and forensic evidence.

Because the appeal remained pending in the latest reliable reporting reviewed for this page, the archive classifies this case as Partial / Appeal Pending rather than treating the first-instance sentences as final.

Current status

Badr's death has produced multiple criminal convictions at first instance, but the appellate process had not reached a documented final conclusion in the latest sources reviewed. The case therefore remains legally incomplete for archive-classification purposes.