The criminal court of Algiers handed, on Thursday, death sentences against 49 suspects involved in the murder of Djamel Bensmail, and prison sentences ranging from 2 to 10 years against 28 suspects.
The court also acquitted 17 suspects and fined others up to 200,000 DA, according to the Algerian News Agency (APS).
Djamel Bensmail was burned alive and mutilated after accusing him of being the arsonist of the Kabylia region. The forest fire that broke out last August killed more than 90 people and caused extensive damage.
Djamel Bensmail volunteered in the Tizi Ouzou region (northwestern Algeria) to put out a fire that had ravaged the area, but locals accused him of starting the fire and attacked him. Despite turning himself in to the police, Bensmail was released to an angry mob that burned him alive.