Two Algerians found guilty last month of committing a series of deadly bombings in Paris in 1995 and sentenced to life in jail will both appeal their convictions, their lawyers said on Tuesday.
Boualem Bensaid and Smain Ait Ali Belkacem, both 34 years old, were convicted last week by a special anti-terrorist court of planting three bombs in the French capital between July and October 1995 that left eight people dead and 200 injured.
Bensaid, who will not be eligible for parole for 22 years, filed his appeal immediately following the October 30 verdict, according to one of his attorneys, Guillaume Barbe. Belkacem will shortly launch his appeal, his lawyer Philippe Van der Meulen told AFP.
If the appeal is upheld, a new trial could be organized before the same anti-terrorist court, in a year's time, as only that court has jurisdiction over terrorist cases.
Meanwhile, missing from the trial was a third Algerian seen as a prime suspect in the case. Rachid Ramda, aged 33, was being held in Britain after repeated extradition attempts by French authorities failed to secure his presence. A London High Court ruled that Ramda risked "inhuman treatment" if returned to France. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
