French prosecutors seek life in jail for brother of jihadist who killed Jewish children
AFP - [email protected]
Published: 31 Oct, 2017 CET.
Updated: Tue 31 Oct 2017 09:10 CET
Prosecutors in the trial of the brother of the Islamist radical who shot dead seven people including three Jewish children in southwest France in 2012 called Monday for him to be jailed for life.
Abdelkader Merah, 35, should be ineligible for parole for 22 years, prosecutor Naima Rudloff told the court as the trial that began on October 2 reached its final phase.
He was accused of knowingly facilitating his brother Mohamed Merah's attackon a Jewish school in Toulouse in which a rabbi, two of the rabbi's children aged three and five and an eight-year-old girl were killed.
The attack, which Merah carried out in the name of Al-Qaeda, was the deadliest on Jews in France in three decades and the first of a wave of violence by homegrown jihadists that has killed more than 200 people.
READ ALSO:
Abdelghani Merah, who is trying to make sure no one becomes like his brother Mohamed. Photo: AFP
Over the course of his nine-day killing spree, Merah also shot dead three soldiers based in the nearby garrison town of Montauban before police killed him after a 32-hour siege of his home.
Abdelkader was charged with helping Mohamed, 23 at the time, to steal the motor scooter and jacket he used during the killing spree.
Abdelkader was also accused of belonging to an offshoot of Al-Qaeda and following the group's "teachings and operational advice".
Investigators believe Abdelkader had considerable influence over his brother.
Defending him in 2012, the elder Merah had said: "Every Muslim would like to give his life to kill his enemy."
Prosecutors say the pair were repeatedly in contact in the days before the shootings.
Rudloff said a second defendant, Fettah Malki, also charged with complicity, should get 20 years behind bars.
The 34-year-old was accused of supplying Mohamed Merah with a machine pistol, ammunition and a bullet-proof vest.
Neither man denies helping the gunman obtain materials but claim they were unaware of his intentions.
A verdict is expected Thursday.
Comments
See Also
Abdelkader Merah, 35, should be ineligible for parole for 22 years, prosecutor Naima Rudloff told the court as the trial that began on October 2 reached its final phase.
He was accused of knowingly facilitating his brother Mohamed Merah's attackon a Jewish school in Toulouse in which a rabbi, two of the rabbi's children aged three and five and an eight-year-old girl were killed.
The attack, which Merah carried out in the name of Al-Qaeda, was the deadliest on Jews in France in three decades and the first of a wave of violence by homegrown jihadists that has killed more than 200 people.
READ ALSO:
Abdelghani Merah, who is trying to make sure no one becomes like his brother Mohamed. Photo: AFP
Over the course of his nine-day killing spree, Merah also shot dead three soldiers based in the nearby garrison town of Montauban before police killed him after a 32-hour siege of his home.
Abdelkader was charged with helping Mohamed, 23 at the time, to steal the motor scooter and jacket he used during the killing spree.
Abdelkader was also accused of belonging to an offshoot of Al-Qaeda and following the group's "teachings and operational advice".
Investigators believe Abdelkader had considerable influence over his brother.
Defending him in 2012, the elder Merah had said: "Every Muslim would like to give his life to kill his enemy."
Prosecutors say the pair were repeatedly in contact in the days before the shootings.
Rudloff said a second defendant, Fettah Malki, also charged with complicity, should get 20 years behind bars.
The 34-year-old was accused of supplying Mohamed Merah with a machine pistol, ammunition and a bullet-proof vest.
Neither man denies helping the gunman obtain materials but claim they were unaware of his intentions.
A verdict is expected Thursday.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.