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Trial in France for Jew's murder French Jewish murder trial opens
(about 4 hours later)
Twenty-seven people have gone on trial in Paris for the kidnapping and killing of a young Jewish man that shocked France three years ago. The alleged leader of a French kidnap gang has gone on trial in Paris accused of torturing and killing a Jewish man - a crime that shocked France in 2006.
A gang targeting Jews in ransom kidnappings has been blamed for the abduction and brutal torture of the victim, Ilan Halimi. Youssouf Fofana - who admits kidnapping 23-year-old Ilan Halimi but denies killing him - shouted "God is great" in Arabic as he entered the courtroom.
The alleged gang leader, Youssouf Fofana, shouted "God is great" in Arabic as he entered the courtroom. Some 26 of his alleged associates are also on trial for lesser offences.
The killing prompted large demonstrations against anti-Semitism. The trial, due to last until July, will be held behind closed doors because of the young age of two of the defendants.
Mr Halimi, 23, was kidnapped and brutally tortured for more than three weeks before he was found naked and tied to a tree near a railway track in the suburbs south of Paris. The killing prompted thousands of people to take to the streets of Paris and protest against anti-Semitism.
He had been stabbed and set alight and he died on his way to hospital. Mr Halimi was kidnapped and brutally tortured for more than three weeks before he was found naked and tied to a tree near a railway track in the southern suburbs of Paris.
Youssouf Fofana, the leader of a Paris gang known as The Barbarians, is accused of carrying out the attack and faces life imprisonment if found guilty. He had been stabbed and set alight and died on his way to hospital.
Mr Fofana entered the court wearing a white tracksuit. He looked at Mr Halimi's relatives, shouting "Allahu akbar". Mr Fofana, 28, leader of a Paris gang known as The Barbarians, is accused of carrying out the attack and faces life imprisonment if found guilty.
When the judged asked the 28-year-old for his birthday, he said he was born on 13 February, 2006, in Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois - the date and place of Mr Halimi's death. He entered the court wearing a white tracksuit and looked at Mr Halimi's relatives before shouting "Allahu akbar".
When the judge asked the defendant for his identity, he replied "African barbarian armed revolt salafist", referring to a strict Sunni Muslim movement.
He the told the court he was born on 13 February, 2006, in Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois - the date and place of Mr Halimi's death.
Youssouf Fofana has pleaded not guilty to murderYoussouf Fofana has pleaded not guilty to murder
Youssouf Fofana is alleged to have instructed gang members to target Jews and to kidnap them until their families paid a ransom. Mr Fofana is alleged to have ordered gang members to kidnap Jews and hold them until their families paid a ransom.
He has admitted all the charges, including entrapment and kidnapping but he denies stabbing Mr Halimi to death. The victim, who worked in a mobile phone shop, was lured by a female gang member to an empty apartment in the Parisian suburbs where he was attacked and drugged.
The other defendants have been indicted on lesser charges. As some of them were minors at the time of the crime, the judge excluded the public and the press for the remainder of the trial. The kidnappers tried unsuccessfully to extort a ransom of 450,000 euros ($600,000; £405,000) from his family.
The victim, who worked in a mobile phone shop, was lured by a gang member to an empty apartment in the Parisian suburbs where he was attacked and drugged. During his ordeal, his family was sent harrowing images and video recordings by his captors.
During his ordeal, his family were sent harrowing images and video recordings by his captors. Jacques Chirac, who was president at the time, promised his parents a full investigation.
The then-President, Jacques Chirac, promised his parents a full investigation. Mr Fofana, of Ivorian descent, fled to Ivory Coast after the murder and allegedly made death threats over the telephone Mr Halimi's father and girlfriend.
He was extradited back to France in March 2006.