The driver who struck four-and-a-half-year-old Ghita with his four-wheel-drive vehicle on Sidi Rahal beach last June has been sentenced by the Berrechid Court of First Instance to 10 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay 400,000 dirhams in damages to the young victim, while the insurance company was excluded from the case. In addition, he was fined 500 dirhams for driving onto the sand dunes. The defendant was acquitted of altering the scene of the accident but convicted on the remaining charges. The court gave both parties ten days to appeal the ruling, media sources reported. This ruling followed a major turning point in the case after the court reviewed a medical report. The latter revealed that Ghita suffered a fracture to the right frontal part of her skull, causing pressure on the brain's frontal lobe and a hematoma between the bone and outer membrane. She required emergency surgery to repair the bone and relieve the pressure. The report also documented multiple injuries, including a deep scalp wound, facial and hand abrasions, a torn right eyelid requiring delicate stitches, and loss of consciousness upon arrival at the clinic. It further stated that Ghita endured a total temporary disability of 120 days and an 80% partial permanent disability, leaving her in need of constant daily care. She continues to suffer from behavioral disorders, sudden crying spells, urinary incontinence, and sleep difficulties, requiring long-term medical and psychological treatment, as well as physical and cognitive rehabilitation. The defense argued that the defendant acted in good faith, did not flee the scene, and took the victim to the clinic. The defense also pointed to municipal responsibility, highlighting the absence of signs prohibiting vehicles from entering the beach, and confirmed that the defendant held a valid driver's license and that his vehicle was properly insured.
