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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Florence Cassez released in Mexico | Florence Cassez released in Mexico |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A Frenchwoman jailed in Mexico in 2007 for 60 years for kidnapping has been freed, after the Supreme Court ruled her rights were violated. | A Frenchwoman jailed in Mexico in 2007 for 60 years for kidnapping has been freed, after the Supreme Court ruled her rights were violated. |
| Florence Cassez had denied the charges and many irregularities were found in the case, including a staged televised police raid. | Florence Cassez had denied the charges and many irregularities were found in the case, including a staged televised police raid. |
| Three judges on a panel of five voted to have Ms Cassez released immediately. | Three judges on a panel of five voted to have Ms Cassez released immediately. |
| The case provoked tensions between Mexico and France, where news of her release was widely welcomed. | The case provoked tensions between Mexico and France, where news of her release was widely welcomed. |
| Ms Cassez was driven to Mexico City's international airport, where she boarded an overnight Air France flight to Paris. | |
| 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. | 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". | 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." | "France thanks all those who, in Mexico as well as here at home, have fought so that truth and justice prevail." |
| Mr Hollande spoke to Ms Cassez by phone on Wednesday evening. Details of the conversation have not been revealed. | Mr Hollande spoke to Ms Cassez by phone on Wednesday evening. Details of the conversation have not been revealed. |
| "This is a historic day for Mexican justice." said her lawyer Frank Berton. | "This is a historic day for Mexican justice." said her lawyer Frank Berton. |
| Sharp criticism | Sharp criticism |
| Florence Cassez was arrested on 8 December 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. | Florence Cassez was arrested on 8 December 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 next day, Mexican TV showed what it described as live footage of a police raid, which it later transpired had been a reconstruction performed at the request of the media. | The next day, Mexican TV showed what it described as live footage of a police raid, which it later transpired had been a reconstruction performed at the request of the media. |
| The Supreme Court judges ruled that the reconstruction had violated Ms Cassez's rights. | The Supreme Court judges ruled that the reconstruction had violated Ms Cassez's rights. |
| The decision to release her has been sharply criticised by one of the hostages, Ezequiel Elizalde, BBC Mexico correspondent Will Grant says. | 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". | 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. | 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. | Diplomatic tensions reached a peak two years ago when Mexican authorities cancelled a high-profile cultural event in Paris. |