PARIS (AP) — The Latest on the trial of a man charged with harboring terrorists from 2015 Paris attacks (all times local):
4:40 p.m.
A French court has acquitted a man charged with harboring Islamic extremists after they carried out the 2015 Paris attacks, in the first trial related to the country’s deadliest extremist violence since World War II.
The presiding judge said the Paris court found Jawad Bendaoud, an outspoken 31-year-old confirmed street criminal, not guilty of providing lodging to two of the attackers and helping them hide from police when they were the most-wanted criminals in France.
Bendaoud had denied knowing the identity of his renters. One of the two men he hid was Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the suspected ringleader of the Paris attacks.
The court also convicted and sentenced his two co-defendants. Mohamed Soumah, who was accused of acting as an intermediary, received a five-year prison sentence. Youssef Ait-Boulahcen, who was accused of being aware of the extremist’s whereabouts and not informing authorities, was sentenced to three years.
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1:40 p.m.
A French court is expected to hand down a verdict for a man accused of harboring killers who carried out the 2015 Paris attacks, in the first trial related to the country’s deadliest extremist violence since World War II.
Jawad Bendaoud, a 31-year-old street criminal, faces up to six years in prison if convicted of providing lodging to two of the attackers and helping them hide from police when they were the most-wanted criminals in France.
Bendaoud has denied knowing who he had rented the apartment to.
The prosecutor requested a four-year term for Bendaoud, saying he knew he was hiding criminals.
A verdict is also expected for his two co-defendants.
The Nov. 13, 2015, attacks left 130 people dead. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility.
