An Algerian student, Sid-Ahmed Ghlam, who shot dead a young mother as he prepared to attack a French church in 2015 has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
Ghlam presented himself in court in Paris as a repentant jihadist manipulated by Islamic State handlers in Syria, who five years ago told him to attack a church in Villejuif, south of the capital.
He never carried out the attack.
Ghlam was however convicted and sentenced for the 2015 murder of Aurélie Châtelain. He was said to have coldly shot the 32-year-old fitness instructor in her car in a parking lot in Villejuif, in the Paris suburbs.
He claimed a mystery accomplice killed the Châtelain by accident, despite his DNA and blood traces being found with her body in her burnt-out car.
The DNA and blood traces were also found on the murder weapon
The court ordered him to serve at least 22 years, with immediate deportation to follow.
Three accomplices were jailed for up to 30 years. Rabah Boukaouma, considered by the DGSI as the “chief logistician” of the operation – was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment, including a two-thirds security period.
The second accomplice, Abdelkader Jalal, who had provided a stolen car which served as a cache of weapons, was sentenced to fifteen years of criminal imprisonment, including a security period of two-thirds.
The third accomplice, Farid Brahami, was sentenced to twenty-five years imprisonment, including a two-thirds security period.