A court in Ivory Coast sentenced a policeman to 17 years in jail for the murder of a French journalist, ending a politically sensitive trial that exposed anti-French and anti-media bias in the former colony.
Jean Helene, a correspondent for Paris-based Radio France Internationale (RFI), was shot dead on October 21st outside a police station in the capital Abidjan's business district.
After a three-day trial, Sergeant Theodore Dago Sery, who was on duty outside the police station the night of the shooting, was found guilty of intentionally killing Helene.
The accused, 28, shouted three times "I am innocent" as the verdict was read out.
His lawyers said they would appeal, arguing the trial had been rushed and tainted by procedural irregularities. They also accused Helene's employers, RFI, of compromising the outcome.
"My client is innocent. I am not surprised by the decision," said defense lawyer Mr Charles Kignima. "At all stages of the procedure, RFI made provocative statements. It compromised the trial," he added.
He said he would lodge an appeal with the Supreme Court tomorrow. Supporters of the accused, some wearing T-shirts reading "Free Dago Sery," were at the courthouse to hear the verdict.
Helene's murder highlighted the anti-French sentiment
which swept the former French colony after it plunged into civil war in September 2002 and also shone a spotlight on a simultaneous rise in hostility to foreign media.
Foreign media and French radio and television channels in particular were accused of pro-rebel bias during the war, which blew out of failed coup attempt and claimed thousands of lives in the world's biggest cocoa producer before being declared over in July.
Anti-French sentiment peaked in January 2003 after France helped broker a peace deal, with pro-government youths attacking French businesses and homes in Abidjan.