Casablanca – A final autopsy has ruled that the death of a Moroccan man restrained by two off-duty police officers in Torrejón de Ardoz was a homicide caused by asphyxia, according to forensic findings released today.
The report, the third conducted in the case, concludes that Abderrahim Akkouh died from a lack of oxygen after being immobilized with a neck hold and chest compression while lying face down.
The incident dates back to the night of June 17-18 of last year, when two Madrid municipal police officers, one off duty and the other retired, pursued and restrained the 35-year-old following an alleged theft attempt.
Forensic experts from the Madrid Institute of Legal Medicine said the cause of death was “violent” and classified it as homicide. They pointed to the combined effect of the chokehold — known as a rear naked choke — and pressure on the torso, which led to anoxia.
The autopsy also documented multiple injuries, including broken ribs, abrasions on the arms, and facial wounds.
Investigators noted that pre-existing conditions may have played a role. The victim had a coronary disease and had reportedly consumed drugs prior to the incident, factors that could have worsened the outcome but did not alter the main cause of death.
The findings are based on both the examination of the body and video footage recorded by bystanders, which shows the victim being restrained while witnesses warned officers about his condition.
So far, only the officer who applied the chokehold is under investigation. But the victim’s family is pushing for the second officer — who held the man’s legs — to also be charged. Their lawyer argues he should be considered either a co-author or a necessary accomplice, even though the autopsy states that the leg restraint did not directly influence the death.
The case, initially treated as possible negligent homicide, could now face more serious charges following the definitive forensic conclusions.
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