The Criminal Chamber of the Tambacounda High Court examined a tragic case on Wednesday involving betrayed friendship and romantic rivalry. Stanislas Diouf, better known as "Abbé," a 21-year-old from Keur Daouda, is being prosecuted for the murder of his close friend, Édouard Sène. The tragedy, which claimed the young man's life, unfolded on June 11, 2024, during a wedding ceremony that turned into a nightmare.

Before the magistrates, the accused admitted to delivering the fatal blow, while firmly denying any intention to kill. According to his version of events, the altercation was sparked by poorly controlled jealousy over a young woman named Agnès Dieng. Stanislas Diouf explained that she was his former partner and that he couldn't bear to see her with his friend. He maintains that he was provoked and punched in the face before being challenged to a fight in a secluded area. It was during this confrontation, while he was helping to put away sound equipment, that he allegedly struck the victim with a screwdriver, claiming he never aimed for the head.

The testimony of Agnès Dieng, the young woman at the center of this rivalry, sheds a different light on the evening of the tragedy. She recounted that around 11 p.m., Stanislas Diouf allegedly shoved her, prompting Édouard Sène to intervene and help her up. Faced with the accused's aggression, she said she preferred to leave to avoid any further incident, adding that she had never reciprocated Stanislas's feelings and that her only boyfriend was the victim. It wasn't until the early morning that she learned of the fatal outcome of the argument.

In his closing argument, Prosecutor Aliou Dia emphasized the gravity of the events and the loss of a human life in such trivial circumstances. Believing the defendant's guilt to be beyond doubt, the prosecution requested a 10-year prison sentence for Stanislas Diouf.

The defense, led by Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye, attempted to persuade the court to interpret the facts less harshly. The lawyer argued for the charge to be reduced from murder to manslaughter, claiming that his client had not intended to kill and had acted in the heat of the moment. Invoking the defendant's good faith and youth, the lawyer requested leniency from the judges.

The Criminal Chamber has taken the case under advisement. The verdict, which will determine the fate of Stanislas Diouf, is expected on February 19th.