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| Africa: West |
| Ivory Coast delays trial of French reporter murderer (Quagmire, anyone?) |
| 2003-12-22 |
| The trial of a policeman accused of gunning down a French journalist in Ivory Coast will begin on January 20, nearly a month later than initially scheduled, the country’s state military prosecutor said on Sunday. Jean Helene, a correspondent for Paris-based Radio France Internationale, was shot dead on October 21 outside a police station in the war-torn nation’s main city Abidjan. Sergeant Theodore Sery has since been held for killing Helene and his trial was expected to start on Monday. But prosecutor Ange Kessi said the trial had been postponed because the initial date was too close to the Christmas holiday period. "We want to give all the parties a chance to be there. All those who wish to attend must be allowed to do so," Kessi told state television. "Given that this trial is so eagerly awaited, it must be organised in an undisputedly transparent manner." Helene’s killing highlighted anti-French sentiment which has been inflamed since a rebellion last year triggered a civil war in what was once France’s most stable ex-colony. Sery had said his gun had gone off accidentally but Kessi said Helene was deliberately murdered with a shot to the head. Sery’s lawyer has since said his client had grappled with Helene after ordering him to leave and during the fight he heard two shots, but was not responsible for the killing. War in the West African country was officially declared over in July, but rebels still hold the northern half of the world’s top cocoa producer. Foreign media and French radio and television channels in particular have been accused of pro-rebel bias. France, which has sent 4,000 troops to police a ceasefire accord, has demanded "exemplary justice" in the murder case. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #1 France ... has demanded "exemplary justice" in the murder case. Let's make sure the accused has a trial like that of Slobo -- 10 months and the prosecution still hasn't rested. Or like the Rwandan thugs awaiting trial for about 10 years now. Good old fashioned international tribunal justice. Then mebbe the French will get the message. Or not. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-12-22 12:58:06 PM |