The Ambohimanga Rova case was brought up yesterday during proceedings at the Anosy court. During the trial for the murder of a Belgian couple, two defense lawyers cited the death of four suspects during a crime scene reconstruction to denounce police violence and challenge the validity of confessions obtained.
The trial, held in Room 5 of the Anosy court, concerned the murder of a Belgian man and his wife in Mahajanga in September 2021. The victims’ security guard and a soldier, both prosecuted in the case, were sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor.
Although distinct from the Ambohimanga Rova case, the trial drew parallels to it. The soldier’s lawyer and her colleague argued that the deaths of the four suspects highlight concerns regarding the methods used by law enforcement and the conditions under which defendants are pressured to confess.
“Mr. President, we have all heard of the Ambohimanga Rova case. Two young women from Manjakaray disappeared before being found murdered in Ambohimanga. The police arrested four suspects who were shot dead during the reconstruction of the crime. I looked at the photos of the alleged murderers. Their faces were swollen and bore injuries,” the lawyer stated.
She continued: “This suggests they were subjected to police violence. Yet, the police claim they tried to seize an officer’s weapon, prompting a response from law enforcement. My client also suffered violence during his police custody. He was unable to fully exercise his rights to defense and ended up confessing.”
Her colleague, representing the security guard, cited another case—the murder of Danil Radjan—to illustrate his reservations regarding investigative methods and coerced confessions. He noted that in that case, despite initial interrogations, the Criminal Court eventually established the innocence of the accused.
Regarding the murder of Stéphanie Nohasoavina and Haingotiana Rasamison, the Criminal Brigade and the prosecutor’s office had claimed to have solid evidence against the four suspects. According to the authorities, the suspects resisted during the reconstruction on Saturday morning and attempted to seize a weapon, leading to the fatal response from their escorts.
As of yesterday, the bodies of the four suspects remained at the morgue. Among them was a well-known footballer from 67 Ha, a former captain of 67 City FC, who had been a prominent figure in local tournaments.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-01 06:08:46 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/suspects-abattus-laffaire-ambohimanga.html