This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21172995
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Florence Cassez to be freed in Mexico | Florence Cassez to be freed in Mexico |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Frenchwoman jailed in Mexico in 2007 for 60 years for kidnapping is to be freed, the Supreme Court has decided. | A Frenchwoman jailed in Mexico in 2007 for 60 years for kidnapping is to be freed, the Supreme Court has decided. |
| Florence Cassez had denied the charges and many irregularities have been found in the case, including a staged televised police raid. | Florence Cassez had denied the charges and many irregularities have been found in the case, including a staged televised police raid. |
| Three judges on a panel of five voted to have Ms Cassez released immediately because her rights had been violated. | Three judges on a panel of five voted to have Ms Cassez released immediately because her rights had been violated. |
| The case provoked tensions between Mexico and France, where news of her impending release was widely welcomed. | |
| Ms Cassez's mother, Charlotte, told French television the case had been full of suspense right to the end. "It's an explosion of joy. I can't quite believe it," she said. | |
| In a statement, President Francois Hollande said the decision marked the end of a "particularly painful period". | |
| "France thanks all those who, in Mexico as well as here at home, have fought so that truth and justice prevail." | |
| Her lawyer told French TV Ms Cassez would be out of jail in minutes and could be back in France on Thursday. | |
| Sharp criticism | |
| Florence Cassez was arrested in 2005 at a ranch near Mexico City where several hostages were found, but denied knowledge of the kidnappings, in which her former boyfriend was involved. | |
| The decision to release her has been sharply criticised by one of the hostages, Ezequiel Elizalde, BBC Mexico correspondent Will Grant says. | |
| Mr Elizalde testified against Ms Cassez and has condemned the Supreme Court's decision as "disgusting", describing Mexico's institutions as "filth". | |
| This was the second time that the Supreme Court had taken a vote on freeing Ms Cassez. | This was the second time that the Supreme Court had taken a vote on freeing Ms Cassez. |
| Last March, however, the judges decided against her release, despite acknowledging serious irregularities in the process. | Last March, however, the judges decided against her release, despite acknowledging serious irregularities in the process. |
| When first convicted, she was jailed for 96 years, But, in 2009, a court of appeal reduced the term to 60 years. | When first convicted, she was jailed for 96 years, But, in 2009, a court of appeal reduced the term to 60 years. |
| French authorities tried to extradite her, but the move was blocked by the Mexican government. | French authorities tried to extradite her, but the move was blocked by the Mexican government. |
| Mr Hollande's predecessor in the Elysee Palace, Nicolas Sarkozy, championed the case and repeatedly clashed with the Mexican government of then-President Felipe Calderon. | |
| Diplomatic tensions reached a peak two years ago when Mexican authorities cancelled a high-profile cultural event in Paris. |