| And you thought *your* last vacation turned out badly... |
A Turkish court has fined three French vacationers for the killing of a sailboat skipper who they said threatened to blow up the boat they were in, their lawyer said Thursday.
David Bassard, his mother Marylene and his wife Sylvie appeared in court Wednesday in the Mediterranean city of Fethiye for the killing of Friad Hichan on August 22, said Taner Aktop. They had argued that the killing was self-defence.
The court issued prison sentences of 13 months plus 10 days for the three, but commuted the sentences to fines of 8,100 Turkish lira (4,400 euros, 6,000 dollars) each, Aktop said.
Hichan was a Moroccan sailor hired by the family to pilot their boat. An altercation occurred on the trip off the coast of Turkey, resulting in the strangulation of Hichan and serious injuries to Bassard's father, who was stabbed. The family said the argument began between Bassard's father, Max, and Hichan over a missing dinghy.
According to the lawyer, the argument led to Hicham stabbing Max Bassard. Hicham then poured gas on the deck and threatened to light it, Aktop said. The family responded by tying him up by the legs, arms and throat, the lawyer said.
The court accepted the family's self-defense argument, but ruled that they had used too much force in response, Aktop said. The family plans to appeal. |