‘Carlos the Jackal’ sentenced to life for 1974 attack

A French court on Tuesday convicted the man known as “Carlos the Jackal,” once the world’s most-wanted fugitive, of a deadly 1974 attack on a Paris shopping arcade and sentenced him to life in prison for the third time.

The Venezuelan-born Ilich Ramirez Sanchez is already serving two life sentences in France for murders and attacks he was convicted of perpetrating or organizing on behalf of the Palestinian cause or of communist revolution in the 1970s and ‘80s. His lawyers, who had pleaded for acquittal, said they will appeal the latest verdict, though the third life sentence doesn’t affect how long he will stay behind bars.

A few hours before the decision was returned, the 67-yearold known worldwide as Carlos took the floor one last time and denounced “an absurd trial” for a 42-year-old crime.

He had denied involvement, saying there was no proof against him or direct witnesses.

Five judges found Carlos, the only defendant in the case, guilty of throwing a grenade onto a shopping area in the French capital’s Latin Quarter. Two people were killed and 34 injured at the trendy Drugstore Publicis.

The lawyer for the two dead victims’ families, Georges Holleaux, said that “today we are extremely relieved.”

“The evidence exists, it’s overwhelming, it was recognized (by the court) and justice is done,” Holleaux told reporters. “Today’s verdict is proof that there is nowhere, never, impunity if one is ready to fight. Let perpetrators of terrorist crimes know it: now the victims will never give up.”

The case took so long to go to trial because it was first dismissed for lack of evidence. It was reopened after Carlos was arrested by French intelligence services in Sudan in 1994 and imprisoned in France. His lawyers introduced challenges at every stage of the proceedings.

After the verdict was returned, one of Carlos’ lawyers, Francis Vuillemin, argued the trial should never have been held because the case was beyond the normal statute of limitations.

“The media truth has permeated the judicial truth. The magistrates didn’t dare acquit Carlos. Let’s meet again in one year, for the appeal trial and for a new performance in this justice drama,” Vuillemin added.