Rocket launcher escapee sentenced

ITALIAN robber Antonio Ferrara has been given 17 years for his part in a volient and coordinated escape from a Paris prison in 2003.

Ferrara’s former lawyer, Karim Achoui, was given seven years for aiding and abetting him, while prison officer Hocine Kroziz got 12 for the same reason.

Ferrara, 35, who emigrated to France with his family in the 1980s, was in Fresnes prison in Val-de-Marne, having been jailed for bank robbery.

He escaped when a gang set fire to cars in the local area to create a diversion, before raking the guardposts with automatic rifles and smashing down the door and interior walls with rocket launchers.

They gave Ferrara explosives that allowed him to blow off the bars of his cell. He had previously arranged to commit a minor act of disobedience so as to be placed in a punishment wing which was well-located for the escape.

It took three days of deliberations for the verdict to be pronounced at the Cour d’Assises de Paris, after a ten-week trial.

In total 18 accomplices were sentenced, while two suspects were acquitted. Punishments ranged from suspended sentences to a variety of jail terms including four of 15 years each. The men were convicted of crimes including aiding and abetting escape, destroying goods with explosives, burning cars and transporting weapons.

Friends and family of the accused hurled insults at the judges and there were accusations of racism due to the stiff sentence handed out to Achoui.

Ferrara and Achoui have both said they will appeal.