Corsican nationalist Colonna's appeal rejected
The Court of Appeal in Paris has thrown out a request by defence lawyers for the release of the Corsican nationalist Yvan Colonna, who was jailed for the murder of French official Claude Erignac. The court said that Colonna could go on the run if released and that it would put witnesses’ lives at risk.
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Colonna is now scheduled to remain in prison until his third trial due to take place in the summer of 2011, after the country's highest court overturned his sentence in June.
Defence lawyers blasted the verdict saying that they would continue to gather evidence.
“Justice is struggling to triumph over politics,” said Colonna’s lawyer Pascal Garbarini. “The Colonna case is being given special status, taking into account the situation and the different operators involved in this trial.”
Meanwhile public prosecutor, Benoit Chabert expressed satisfaction at the verdict, saying it was motivated by the fact that Colonna had been on the run for four years before being arrested.
“You cannot say to judges ‘have faith in me’ when they have made a mockery of justice for four years,” said Chabert.
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