The verdict for a trial regarding a fatal stabbing in Bonnevoie four years ago was due on Thursday, but has been delayed.

The judge has requested further expert opinions on the genetic profiles found on a number of jackets. DNA from all five youths involved in the fatal brawl in Bonnevoie will be submitted to a laboratory for further analysis. The lawyer for the victim's family, Frank Wies, said the main defendant stands accused of two acts:

"The thing is, Raphael [the 18-year-old victim] was stabbed and killed. There is no expertise needed to say that. The question the court is asking is, was the murder deliberate and planned, or did the perpetrator not want the consequences that came out later?"

The second defendant in the trial, a friend of the deceased, was also stabbed in the groin.

"After four years, the investigation still hasn't clearly defined who did this, and it can only be this point that is stalling the verdict."

The main defendant's friend also had a knife with him on that fateful evening in 2021, but the weapon has never been found. He has not appeared on trial in this case as he was aged just 15 at the time of the stabbing.

The day after the stabbing, police officers seized a number of jackets from the main defendant's home as it was not clear which one he was wearing at the time of the crime. Frank Wies says:

"These are the items of clothing which will be examined now, so it is speculation. The court has likely come to the conclusion that this point hasn't been investigated properly. No DNA traces have been examined on this clothes, so they are hoping there will be answers to the question as to who injured the second victim."

The young man who has been charged with involvement in the fight did not incriminate the main defendant in his testimony. He said he didn't know when the injury happened as he didn't feel it straight away.

The results from the analysis are expected by 15 January. Then a new date will be set for the continuation of the trial.