France to re-try five more over Jewish murder

PARIS (Reuters) - Five people found guilty of kidnapping and torturing to death a young Jewish man will be re-tried by an appeal court alongside 14 other gang members, the Paris public prosecutor's office said Friday.

Youssouf Fofana, the leader of the self-proclaimed "gang of babarians" had appealed against his life sentence and will face a new trial in about a year with his fellow defendants, an official said.

Originally 25 people were sentenced in connection with the 2006 abduction and murder of 23-year-old Ilan Halimi, who was kidnapped with a view to extorting a ransom. He was tortured for more three weeks before being dumped near a train station, dying shortly in hospital after he was found.

Monday Justice Minister Michele Alliot-Marie asked for 14 members of the 25 to be re-tried, because their sentences, which ranged from six months suspended to 18 years in prison, were too lenient.

Jewish organizations had demanded stiffer punishment for many of the gang to send a strong signal against anti-Semitism, but unions representing magistrates criticised Alliot-Marie's intervention, saying it paves the way for political meddling in judicial affairs.

(Reporting by Thierry Leveque; Writing by Tamora Vidaillet; Editing by Matthew Jones)