The eight people were sentenced for “the exceptional seriousness of the facts” with which they were accused
The two friends of the professor's killer were notably found guilty of complicity in assassination: Azim Epsirkanov, 23, and Naïm Boudaoud, 22, friends of the assailant Abdoullakh Anzorov, were sentenced to 16 years of criminal imprisonment, each with a two-thirds safety period. The first was accused of having helped Abdoullakh Anzorov, an 18-year-old Chechen radical Islamist, to obtain weapons, while the second was accused of having led him to the surroundings of the college on October 16, 2020. Both affirmed at the hearing that they were completely unaware of their friend's murderous intentions and never stopped proclaiming their innocence.
The day before the attack, Naïm Boudaoud, Azim Epsirkhanov and Abdoullakh Anzorov went to Rouen to buy a knife (not the one used to decapitate Samuel Paty) which would be found at the crime scene. At the hearing, Naïm Boudaoud and Azim Epsirkhanov repeated that Abdoullakh Anzorov had explained to them that this knife was “a gift” for his grandfather. On the day of the attack, Naïm Boudaoud, the only one who knew how to drive, accompanied the killer to an airsoft gun store then dropped him off near the college where Samuel Paty taught.
“Jihadosphere”
Brahim Chnina, the father of the schoolgirl who had relayed lies about Samuel Paty, was sentenced to 13 years in prison and Abdelhakim Sefroui, also author of the hate campaign against the professor, was sentenced to 15 years of criminal imprisonment, both for terrorist criminal association (AMT).
The four other accused were presented as members of the “jihadosphere” which revolved around Abdoullakh Anzorov on social networks, and were all also convicted. Ismaïl Gamaev, 22, who exchanged messages about jihad on social networks with the terrorist, was sentenced for AMT to 5 years in prison with a 30-month suspended sentence, placed on probation for three years. Yusuf Cinar, 22, convicted of promoting terrorism online, was sentenced to one year's imprisonment with three years of socio-judicial supervision. Priscilla Manger, 36, the only woman accused, found guilty of provocation, was sentenced to three years in prison with a three-year probationary suspension. Finally, Louqmane Ingar, 22, was found guilty of participating in an AMT and was sentenced to three years in prison, two of which were suspended, as well as a three-year probationary suspension.
“Too lenient” requisitions
The verdict was greeted with screams and tears from the family of 22-year-old Naïm Boudaoud. “I understand that you have been involved in politics,” exclaimed Abdelhakim Sefrioui from his booth before being sharply interrupted by the president, while Brahim Chnina’s family, very numerous on the public benches, burst out in sobs and cries of despair. Vincent Brengarth, one of Abdelhakim Sefrioui's lawyers, immediately announced that his client was appealing his conviction. Ouadie Elhamamouchi, another lawyer for the preacher, said his client was now “a political prisoner”. “I dissociate myself from these comments”, however qualified Me Brengarth, showing flaws in the preacher's defense.
The two young people “were aware of Anzorov’s radicalism” and “that he had the desire to attack the physical integrity of a third party,” the court said. However, underlined President Zientara, “it has not been demonstrated that (the two young people) were informed of Anzorov's intention to kill Samuel Paty.”
