Murder of Hichem Ben Brika: “She ate my brain”, how his wife’s lover tried to defend himself

This Saturday, October 1, 2022, Criminal Chronicles returns to the case of Hichem Ben Brika. The latter, a worker, shares the life of Linda, an executive assistant. They live a simple life near Toulon, with their two little boys. But on October 2, 2011, everything changed: the man was executed with a bullet to the chest. From the first advances in the investigation, the idealized image of the couple is undermined. And because of the tensions in the couple are revealed, with his infidelities. In effect, Hichem Ben Brika’s wife leads a double life with Kamel Belladjimi, a 37-year-old security guard. Less than three hours after the discovery of the man’s body, his wife’s lover was arrested. In his vehicle, the investigators found elements implicating him: “the outfit worn by the shooter, a photo of the victim as well as a handwritten note where his telephone number was mentioned, the address of his parents as well as the description and registration of his van”, remind our colleagues of Provence.

At his third audition, Kamel Belladjimi confesses. The man explains that he has had a relationship with Linda for several months. He thus wanted to free the one who loves him from “the tyrannical and violent influence of her husband”. “I wanted to put an end to this suffering”, he confided. The widow of Hichem Ben Brika later explained that she had been the victim of domestic violence on the part of her husband. She who wanted a divorce, nevertheless denies having been aware of her lover’s criminal plans.

“It was even her who had provided him with the keys to their building, a walkie-talkie to give him “the top” as well as the photo of her husband”

Statements that will deeply annoy Kamel Belladjimi. Thus, he will deliver a new version of the facts. According to him, it is indeed Linda who prepared this murder. “It was even she who had provided him with the keys to their building, a walkie-talkie to give him “the top” as well as the photo of her husband. The day before the assassination, they had even worked out the last details together before the action and Linda was responsible for paying her lover’s two accomplices…”, relate Provence. Justice then decides to indict Linda for “complicity in murder”.

The widow denies all the accusations of her lover

But the widow denies all the accusations of her lover. “But a graphological expertise attributing to him the writing of the word found in his lover’s car on the evening of the crime had ended up convincing the judge”. “She ate my brain” had then launched the lover. At first instance, the jurors had indicated that the two lovers were guilty. Justice then inflicts 25 years of imprisonment on the widow and 22 years on her lover. Linda Ouraci appeals. She was not acquitted, but received a lighter sentence than that imposed on Kamel Belladjimi: 20 years for him, 18 years for her.