Six French Teenagers Convicted in Connection with 2020 Beheading of Teacher Paty

Teenagers Convicted in the Beheading Case

A French court on Friday convicted six teenagers in connection with the 2020 beheading of history teacher Samuel Paty, whose murder shocked the country.

The teacher had shown his pupils caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad in a class on freedom of expression, angering some Muslim parents. Most Muslims avoid depictions of prophets, considering them to be blasphemous.

Among those on trial was a teenage girl who had allegedly told her parents that Paty had asked Muslim pupils to leave the room before showing the caricatures.

False Accusations and Criminal Conspiracy

The court found the girl guilty of making false accusation charges and slanderous comments. It was established that she was not in the class at the time, therefore her accusations were false.

The other adolescents were found guilty of charges related to taking part in a pre-meditated criminal conspiracy and helping to prepare an ambush. They were accused of pointing out Paty to the murderer.

Paty, 47, was killed outside his school in a Paris suburb by an 18-year-old assailant of Chechen origin, who was shot dead by police soon after the attack.

Sentences and Future Trial

The heaviest sentence was given to an adolescent who was formally given a 6-month prison sentence, but will likely serve it at home under electronic surveillance.

The girl who made false accusations was given an 18-month suspended sentence and put on probation measures for two years.

All six teenagers received suspended sentences and will have to follow strict probation measures for two to three years.

Another trial involving adults in connection with Paty's killing is set to take place at the end of next year.