A horrific crime has shaken the outskirts of the city of Annaba, Algeria, resulting in the deaths of two children whose identities were discovered in a shocking turn of events for investigators. One child, a boy no older than nine, was found in the hallway, barely clinging to life, while the other victim, a 12-year-old boy, along with their 66-year-old grandmother, were both lifeless in the kitchen. No one present could have imagined the news of the perpetrator's identity would bring an even greater shock.
Details of the crime, which occurred earlier this month in the 400 housing unit district, located 545 kilometers east of Algiers, were revealed by the prosecutor's office in Annaba on Wednesday. The first victim, identified as (S.Y.), just nine years old, was discovered in the apartment's hallway with visible signs of being murdered, having suffered severe injuries from a sharp object throughout his body, before being rushed to the surgical emergency department at Ibn Rushd University Hospital.
The scene in the kitchen was even more grotesque, with the second victim, a 12-year-old boy, and his grandmother found in a pool of blood, both displaying severe injuries from being stabbed with a sharp weapon. The murder weapon, including blood-stained knives and other sharp tools, was also found in the kitchen.
It didn't take long to identify the perpetrator. While the nine-year-old was being transferred to the hospital, he spoke the name of the assailant before undergoing surgery. His revelation stunned everyone, including the police and investigators, as the murderer turned out to be the children's aunt (P.D.) and her friend (S.Y.), both of whom confessed to the crime and admitted it had been premeditated. They took a vehicle that dropped them off not far from the 400 housing district and traversed side alleys to avoid detection by cameras.
The first assailant approached the kitchen and, while the grandmother was unsuspecting, stabbed her in the neck, following up with multiple stabs to various parts of her body before finally slitting her throat. The nine-year-old attempted to defend his grandmother, but was also attacked by the assailants, receiving stab wounds and a blow to the head with a hammer, barely escaping death.
After committing the murders, the two women took different routes to avoid detection before meeting at an apartment (S.B.). Upon searching their homes, authorities found stolen items belonging to the victim (R.T.), including jewelry made of yellow and white metals, a women's wristwatch, a bottle of perfume, leather wallets, a mobile phone, and four passports belonging to the children and their parents.
The crime has shocked all residents of the province and Algerians at large, who are perplexed by the involvement of two women in a massacre against family members, especially given their cold-blooded planning of the act. Many have called for the harshest penalties for the perpetrators.
