By Hajer M'tiri

RENNES, France

A court in France is to deliver a long-awaited verdict in the trial of two police officers in connection with the 2005 deaths of two teens, which sparked some of the country’s worst rioting for 40 years.

The two officers face charges of "not assisting persons in danger" over the deaths of two teenagers who were electrocuted while being pursued in Clichy-sous-Bois, an eastern suburb of Paris.

On October 27, 2005, Bouna Traore, 15, Zyed Benna, 17, and Muhittin Altun, 17, hid from police in a high-voltage electricity substation.

Traore and Benna were killed and Altun survived with burns. The deaths of the two teens sparked three weeks of nationwide riots.

Then-prime minister Dominique de Villepin declared a state of emergency.

"Why did Zyed and Bouna die? Why do I have to live with these scars and haunting memories? Why didn't police help us? Why did they come after us in the first place? … Why has justice not been served 10 years after our tragedy?" Altun, now 27, told Anadolu Agency when the trial started on March 16.

Police officers Sebastien Gaillemin, 41, and Stephanie Klein, 38, the radio transmitter on the day of the accident, are accused of not helping the teens by failing to notify French energy company EDF of their presence at the substation.

The two officers have argued that they were not aware of the boys' presence; however, it has been claimed that this contradicts accounts and transcripts of police radio exchanges of that day.

Supported by their superiors, the pair are still serving police officers.

During the five-day trial, Judge Nicolas Leger, read through hours of accounts and transcripts of police radio exchanges as well as different testimonies.

In the radio exchange from that day, we can hear Officer Gaillemin saying: "If they go in the EDF substation, I would not give much for their skin [Je ne donne pas cher de leur peau]."

The French metaphor is said when someone is believed to have no future and will die soon.

The appeal court dropped the case in 2011 after the state prosecutor argued that no crime had been committed. However, the families of the victims fought on through higher appeal courts.

If convicted, the police officers could face up to five years in prison and a 75,000-euro ($79,000) fine each.

Gatherings are expected across the country in memory of the dead teenagers and after the announcement of the verdict.