Frenchman convicted of killing Halimi appeals

The lawyer for the convicted killer of a young French Jew says his client is appealing his sentence.

Youssouf Fofana was sentenced July 10 to the maximum punishment under French law — life imprisonment, with 22 years before parole can be considered - for the abduction, torture and death of Ilan Halimi, 23, in 2006.

Justice Minister Michele Alliot-Marie has told prosecutors to appeal the sentences of 14 of the 24 others convicted in the crime, saying they were too lenient given the anti-Semitic character of the crime.

Fofana's lawyer, Francois-Pascal Gery, said Friday his client, who headed the self-styled "gang of barbarians," doesn't want to be left out of the new trial for the 14 others.

Halimi's family felt justice was not done at the closed-door trial.

The gang abducted Halimi, unsuccessfully tried to extort a ransom, tortured him until he was close to death and then dumped him near a train station. He died shortly after he was found.

Fofana, a 28 year-old of Ivoirian origin, expressed no remorse, instead showing defiance throughout the trial.

On various occasions, he smirked at Halimi's relatives, shouted "Allahu Akbar!" ("God is the Greatest!) and at one point threw shoes at lawyers.

Reuters contributed to the report