World Jewish News

Abdelkader Merah, brother of terrorist Mohamed Merah, sentenced to 20 years in prison

French-Algerian Abdelkader Merah, brother of terrorist Mohamed Merah who killed several people in 2012, including Jonathan Sandler, a 30-year-old rabbi and teacher of religion, and his two sons Gabriel and Arieh, aged four and five, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Paris special court.

He was sentenced for taking part in a criminal terrorist association with his brother and others but was found not guilty of complicity in his brother’s deadly terrorist attacks.

Mohammed Merah himself was killed by France's police special forces after a 32-hour standoff in Toulouse in March 2012.

Abdelkader Merah, 35, was accused of radicalizing his younger brother but has always denied helping Mohammed prepare the attacks.

His co-defendant Fettah Malki, a 35-year-old Algerian national who moved to France as a child, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after also being convicted of taking part in a criminal terrorist association.

He was found guilty of providing weapons, ammunitions and a bulletproof vest that Mohammed Merah used during his rampage and the standoff with the police. Malki has maintained he was unaware of his friend's deadly terror plot.

Mohamed Merah shot and killed Imad Ibn-Ziaten, a 30-year-old staff sergeant in the French in Toulouse. Four days later, he killed two other soldiers Corporal Abel Chennouf, 24, and Private Mohamed Legouad, 26, in Montauban

On 19 March, Merah attacked the Ozar Hatorah Jewish school in Toulouse. He killed Jonathan Sandler, and his two sons Gabriel and Arieh. The fourth victim was the head teacher's daughter, seven-year-old Myriam Monsonego, whom Merah grabbed by the hair and shot in the head.

The public prosecutor had asked for the maximum sentences for the two defendants: life imprisonment with 22 years before any possible parole for Merah, and 20 years in prison for Malki.

After eight hours of deliberations, the five professional magistrates convicted Merah of a lesser crime as it acquitted him of the most serious charge, complicity in the terror murders of Mohammed. Presiding judge Franck Zientara said there is no proof Abdelkader Merah helped his brother perpetrate or prepare for his nine-day shooting spree.

"Abdelkader Merah shared his brother's motives but none of the elements in the case file or at the trial shows that he knew of the targets and crimes of his brother," Judge Zientara said.

The verdict was calmly received by the victims' families who were sitting inside the courtroom.diers.

Outside the courtroom, the defense lawyers were greeted by boos and shouts from part of the audience, who had come in large numbers to attend the verdict hearing after weeks of an emotional trial.

Some of the plaintiffs' lawyers also expressed disappointment at the partial acquittal.

EJP