French soldiers ‘ordered’ to kill Ivorian, court hears

France 24

Lawyer of the relatives of the late Firmin Mahe speaks to the press in court in Paris on December 4, 2012 during the trial of four French former soldiers. AFP Photo

Four former French soldiers accused of murdering a man during a peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast in 2005 are due to hear a court’s verdict on Friday.

The men, who admit involvement in killing Firmin Mahe, say they were acting under orders.

Prosecutors on Thursday called for prison terms of between two and five years for the former soldiers, saying that even if they were following orders, “It is a soldier’s duty to disobey illegal commands.”

The French military insists Mahe was a murderer and a rapist who was terrorising civilians in the UN-occupied safe zone.

Read more on France24